Just A Gal From Glidden: Dancing Like We're 22

By Kate Winquist

I don't know about you, but I'm definitely not feeling 22.

My middle child, Kalen, turned 22 on Saturday. Born on the Fourth of July, he has always had fireworks for a birthday. Somehow, seeing that number immediately made me think of Taylor Swift's song 22.

You know the one.

"Everything will be alright if we just keep dancing like we're 22.”

Kalen, age 5.

There's something about that lyric that sticks with you. Maybe it's because, at 57, I can honestly say I don't feel 22 most mornings. My knees certainly don't. But every once in a while, life hands you a week that makes you forget your age for a little while.

This was one of those weeks.

Having Canada Day land on a Wednesday completely threw me off. I spent most of the day doing month-end, so it wasn't exactly a holiday for me, but I did manage to sneak away long enough to enjoy some of the festivities.

The best part?

For the first time in years, I was able to hand over much of the Canada Day photography to Evan.

He came back with more than 1,000 photos.

I even trusted him with my "monster" zoom lens. Most people hesitate before picking it up, but not Evan. He handled it without hesitation, and the results spoke for themselves. Watching someone develop that kind of confidence behind the camera is pretty rewarding.

More than 1,000 people took in the Canada Day celebrations between the Kindersley and District Plains Museum and the rink parking lot. Joan Janzen, who volunteers with the Better Together group, joked that moving many of the activities onto the pavement may have been the best thing to happen. There were virtually no mosquitoes, and the whole area had more of a fair atmosphere.

She's probably right.

Then my internal calendar completely gave up.

Wednesday felt like Saturday.

Thursday felt like Monday.

Friday arrived before I knew it.

And just like that, we were celebrating all over again.

One of my favourite events to cover every year has quickly become the Filipino Music and Food Street Festival.

If you've never been, put it on your calendar for next summer.

Kindersley's Filipino community knows how to throw a celebration.

This year's third annual festival was even bigger than the last. The bright costumes, the music, the dancing and the smiling faces made it impossible not to get caught up in the excitement.

As the parade made its way down Main Street, I found myself doing something I probably shouldn't admit as a newspaper publisher.

I stopped worrying about getting the perfect photo.

For a few minutes, I simply smiled, waved back at people in the parade and tapped my foot to the beat of the drums.

Eventually, my photographer instincts returned. I raced back to the office, swapped my long lens for a shorter one, grabbed my cellphone and hurried over to the Norman Ritchie Centre. I made it just in time to capture video of the parade arriving, along with photos of the performers, vendors and, of course, the incredible food.

What struck me most was how two completely different celebrations, only a few days apart, felt so connected.

One celebrated Canada.

The other celebrated Filipino culture.

Together, they celebrated community.

That's what I love most about living here.

Our little prairie town can host a Canada Day celebration one day and a colourful Filipino street festival a few days later, with hundreds of people coming together simply because they enjoy being together.

Maybe that's why Taylor's song kept popping into my head.

Not because most of us actually want to be 22 again.

But because every once in a while, life reminds you that deadlines can wait for an hour, work will still be there tomorrow, and it's okay to laugh, dance a little and simply enjoy where you are.

For a few hours this week, I forgot how busy life has been.

Maybe that's the secret.

Not becoming 22 again. My back has already voted against that idea.

But remembering what it feels like to laugh until your cheeks hurt, dance a little when nobody's watching, celebrate with your neighbours and soak up the moments that make life fun.

As Taylor Swift sings, "Everything will be alright if we just keep dancing like we're 22.”

This week, I think she might be onto something.

As if to underscore the point, Taylor Swift herself got married over the Fourth of July weekend.

Apparently she's finished dancing like she's 22, too.

Happy birthday, Kalen.

Keep dancing.