A Prairie Homo Companion is a regular column that celebrates the Canadian prairies, canola fields and big skies, and the paradoxes of being a fine-ass lady prairie homo.
Header by Rory Midhani
I have a month to go before I finish university, and I’ve been applying for interesting jobs and internships literally everywhere around the world. Sure, I’ve applied for my fair share of jobs right here in Alberta, but I don’t know for sure where I’ll be in the next year, or even the next few months. Thinking about all the exciting places the future can take me is bittersweet because wherever I go, the Canadian prairies will always be home. So, in anticipation of my future homesickness, I’ve compiled a list of 50 things (in no particular order) I’ll miss should I leave the prairies.
1.The sky. There’s a reason Saskatchewan is called “the land of the living skies.”
2.The sky during a storm
3. Seeing the stars at night. I think I’d feel pretty lost living in a city where I couldn’t see at least some stars at night.
4. Being able to see the stars as early as 4 p.m. on a winter’s night.
5. How the Northern Lights make me feel like everything is magic.
6. Rainbows. The prairies get the best rainbows because the sky is so big.
7. The feeling of space. Thanks to the vast landscape and big sky, it’s easy to breathe and feel free – like the path to all your prairie homo hopes and dreams is as clear as a perfectly blue prairie sky at noon on a winter’s day.
8. History along a country road. It’s not unusual to come across a wooden, turn-of-the-century barn or some falling-apart farm equipment while driving down a prairie road. Prairie cities are notorious for destroying old buildings before they have a chance to be admired, but in the country time is patient, and old buildings and equipment are allowed to slowly disintegrate at nature’s pace. Still, these remnants of prairie history will be around forever, so I’m glad I have the chance to enjoy them.
9. The wind. The other day I was walking my dogs across a field and it was so windy I could hardly see or breathe. I was wearing a hat and a hood, but still my forehead was becoming numb from being repeatedly slapped by the wind. It made me feel so insignificant (because let’s face it: compared to the wind, I am!) but also super-powerful, because hey, I would make it through!
10. The tingly feeling you get all over your body when you finally come inside after being out in -30C
11. Making fun of girls lining up outside a club wearing skirts in -30C
12. Watching Oprah freeze on her visit to Edmonton
13. The clouds
14. Making fun of Saskatchewan (no offence, Saskatchewan)
15. Cars that politely stop to wait for you to cross the street
16. Manners: Please and thank you please and thank you please and thank you
17. The DIY-attitude of the queer community. We make our own culture and we’re damn good at it.
18. Same-sex hand holding for both frostbite-avoidance and romance in sub-zero temperatures
19. Prairie beer:Â Alley Kat Brewberry and Apricat; Winnipeg Half Pints
20. Watching serious, respectable-looking adults doing the penguin shuffle on icy sidewalks
21. Being a snow-covered Canadian prairie queer
22. Knowing about and liking Tegan and Sara before the rest of the world
23. The honking of Canada Geese
24. Minimalist colours in winter: white and blue or white and grey
25. Messages in the snow (Canadian graffiti)
