saskatoon in -10 degrees: a mess of snow and solitude
i woke up to the sound of wind howling through my window. not the cute kind where you hear it and go 'oh hey nature'-this was the kind that wants to eat your blanket. i checked the weather and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. -5.99 degrees, feels like -10.2. my breath froze mid-howl. not a metaphor. just my body's way of saying 'nope, not today.'
the neighbors? well, they're not exactly neighbors. more like...frosty acquaintances. if you get bored, the prairie towns are just a short drive away. i heard they have better coffee shops, but i can't confirm. probably because no one has wifi out here. or maybe they do and it's a lie.
i heard that the local diner here is haunted by a 1950s-era guy who still orders the same bacon sandwich. some say he's real. others say he's just a guy who lost a bet. i didn't ask. i was too busy trying not to slip on the ice outside my dorm. the ice was literal.
google maps says i'm at 52.1333,-106.6833. which is...me. standing in a parking lot. not a scenic parking lot. just a parking lot. but hey, it's free and there's a vending machine that sells instant ramen. not the gourmet kind. the 'you're desperate' kind.
i saw a post on tripadvisor about this place. the reviewer said it's 'the kind of town where your car gets stuck in a snowbank and you're like 'maybe this is where i was meant to be.' i'm not sure if that's poetic or a cry for help. probably both.
here's a photo of trees. yeah, they're bare. and they look like they're judging my life choices.
another photo of a body of water. it's frozen. and also there.
i heard that the yoga studio here has a group class called 'surviving the cold.' i didn't join. i'm still figuring out how to not fall over in 30 seconds. but i did take a picture of the instructor wearing a parka that looked like it belonged in a museum.
someone told me that the bar here is owned by a guy who used to be a professional chef. he makes drinks with actual flavor. not that sugar rush kind. more like 'here's a taste of the world, but also a hug.' i didn't confirm. i was too busy staring at the snow and thinking about how this place is way colder than my ex's heart.
if you're into weird local secrets, check yelp. there's a review that says the library has a hidden room. i didn't check. but i did see a photo of a person holding a ladder and looking very confused. maybe it's real. maybe it's a meme. who knows?
i'm leaving tomorrow. probably. the weather's still here. and i have a lot of questions. like why the snow is white and why my soul is gray. but at least the ramen tastes better when it's this cold. maybe that's the point.
p.s. if you're reading this, thanks for not being a snowball fight. i appreciate it.
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