Just a Gal from Glidden: All part of the story
By Kate Winquist
It’s been a while since I dusted off my pen and put thoughts on paper, but lately, I’ve felt the nudge my mom always gave me: get writing again. Losing her last December left a big hole, and I often find myself thinking about the little things she loved—like seeing me chase stories and memories across a page.
Speaking of memories, our old farmstead in Glidden popped up for sale again recently. For a brief, romantic second, I thought, Maybe I’ll buy it and officially become the gal from Glidden again. But reality (and contentment with my Kindersley life) set in. Still, I can’t help smiling at the memories: the barn still stands with its newer tin roof, the old house that I was raised in sits empty, and a trailer now calls the land home. I hope a new family loves it as much as we did growing up.
On a brighter note, my husband Robert and I are celebrating our silver wedding anniversary on September 16. Can you believe it? People always joked it wouldn’t last. But here we are—together for 30 years, married for 25—and feeling truly blessed.
We’re not big travellers or holiday-makers, but football? That’s our thing. It’s how we met—he found a gal who loved the Saskatchewan Roughriders as much as he did. We even had season tickets for a while. Now, living in Kindersley, it’s a bit far for every game, but being in a triangle with Regina, Calgary, and Edmonton means we can still catch the action if and when we want.
This season, we’ve already hit a couple of games in Regina and even an Edmonton matchup (Elks vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats—not the Riders, but still a blast!). And, of course, the Riders have been on fire—clinching a playoff spot with a 10-2 record heading into a game against the Montreal Alouettes. Robert and I, riding high from the Labour Day Classic and the Banjo Bowl wins, grabbed tickets and made the drive down Saturday morning.
Cue the heartbreak: the Riders laid a goose egg against Montreal, losing 48-31. Injuries had ravaged the defence, and rookie defensive backs just couldn’t stop McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Tyson Philpot. It was a rough one—probably the worst defensive showing I’ve seen in ages. At least the rain gave us an excuse to rock our little Rider ponchos!
After the game, wound up and not feeling the hotel scene, we drove straight back to Kindersley, getting home just before 1 a.m. I managed a few hours of sleep before diving back into work, penning this column with fresh perspective.
Looking forward, we’ll catch one last Rider game in Edmonton on September 27. It’ll be a chance to connect with my sister, her husband, and hopefully my nephew’s family—wrapping up our in-person football season. After that, we’ll join the rest of the fans watching on TSN, reliving the highs, mourning the lows, and cherishing every moment of the ride.
Because at the end of the day, whether it’s a farm at Glidden or a game in Regina, it’s all part of the story—mine, Robert’s, and the life we’ve built together.