For the first time, I feel like this whole COVID mess might be *this close* to being in our rearview mirror here in Saskatchewan.
I know we may feel this on some days and not so much on others, likely depending on the daily data we're given from the provincial government, but I really feel that we've turned the corner on COVID-19. Vaccinations in the province have been going very smooth and the sheer number of people who've gotten their shot so far has been incredibly high, meaning that we're seeing more things open up and the restrictions becoming a lot more relaxed.
It's great to see that level of encouragement and commitment to putting this whole nightmare behind us. It feels like as if we've tackled this thing in a uniquely Saskatchewan way and the end result has been, luckily, very successful. It makes me so happy to see businesses start to open back up, even a few new ones come out of the woodwork, and to see facilities like the swimming pool in Outlook welcome people back for another season. It feels about as close to normal as we're going to get right now, thankfully with even more still to come.
All of this is happening with the month of June literally right around the corner, meaning the official start of summer and even warmer, sunnier days ahead. In my mind, what's happening is very simple: we've approached that all-important turn on the inverted 'S', set to begin our descent down the slope as we enter the summer months.
Do I have you confused? Is an explanation required here? Well, allow me to tell you what I mean.
When I was going to school in Conquest many years ago as a young student, in the Kindergarten room and tacked on a wall was a vibrant and colourful 12-month calendar. You couldn't help but look at this thing whenever we had class in that room. The way this calendar was mapped out, the months of January to May were on top, whereas to begin the month of June and the summer months, you snapped back to the left and down a little bit, where June, July and August trickled on a bit of a curve that leaned into the right. The only way I can describe the design of it is, you guessed it, an inverted 'S'. June was the first month on that curve, followed by the rest of the year.
So whenever we start approaching the end of May, regardless of what age I am, my mind always goes back to that wall calendar in the Kindergarten room of Conquest School and my thought is always the same. 'Ah, June's almost here. We're about to round the corner of the inverted S!'
As I describe that, I don't know how many former students of Conquest School I'm reaching when I describe that calendar. For that matter, I don't even really know why that calendar has always stuck with me, but it has. I'm in my mid-thirties and I left that legendary school behind a quarter of a century ago, but like clockwork, whenever the end of May starts creeping up, that calendar enters my mind.
Heartfelt and oddball recollections from one's youth aside, I'm looking forward to a summer where we're starting to get back on track. Where does one begin? What does one hope to do? Well, how much time do you have?
I'm looking forward to even the littlest of things which, now that I think about it, aren't so little these days, such as visiting loved ones and not having to keep that damn two-meter distance. Hugs, kisses, I say bring it all on! We've got our shots, now it's time to remember what a hug from a relative feels like.
I'm looking forward to Canada Day celebrations, no matter what they may look like. Let's not get ahead of ourselves now, there are still restrictions and we haven't put COVID down for the count officially by any stretch, but I like to think that having missed out on marking this land's 153rd birthday, we'll find a way to make Canada's 154th extra special. Will there be a parade? Will there be entertainment? Will there be fireworks? I don't know, but I hope so. It feels like we're due for some form of celebration.
I'm looking forward to getting behind the wheel and driving around the province to take in all it has to offer. A day at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina. Maybe checking something out at the IMAX Theatre while I'm in the area. A day and evening up at Candle Lake to go for a swim, a hike, and taking in the picturesque vistas. Even something as simple as a day in the park in Outlook, taking in the sights and sounds while armed with my trusty Canon.
Wherever and whatever you may plan to do this summer, I hope you'll do so safely, but more than that, I hope you'll have fun and make some memories to remember fondly as we look back on this time in the future and perhaps roll our eyes. COVID managed to force all of us to press 'Pause' on our lives, or at least any fun aspects of it, but I happen to think that's all it did. It didn't stop our lives, it didn't end a lot of things we still enjoy permanently, and I'm so proud of the fact that we here in rural Saskatchewan found a way to not let it get us down. You might even say in some cases that things were a bit of a creative improvement.
All I know is wherever the summer takes me, I'm game. We've all been asked to put up with a lot these last 14 months and change, and now it's time to start regaining some of the things we've lost.
First and foremost is the ability to create fresh memories.
Time to make some new ones.
For this week, that's been the Ruttle Report.
