I woke up this morning with "All Hell for a Basement" in my head. For those of you who aren't familiar with Big Sugar, the chorus goes like this:

I have lost my way,
but I hear tell
about a heaven in Alberta
where they've got all hell for a basement.

I've been thinking a lot about home lately. I wish I was there for the centennial celebrations. I wish I had seen the Queen when she came. I wish I could have watched the chinooks rolling in this past winter instead of staring at the rain in Victoria. I wish I could be with my family, give my parents and grandparents big hugs, and spend more time with my brother and sister.

The longer I am here in Victoria, the more I realize that my place really is back home in Calgary. I miss the prairies, seeing the wheat fields turn golden in the summer and watching the calves playing in the spring. I want to see the mountains in the morning, with the sun glinting off of them and turning them golden.

I miss the culture that encourages and rewards hard work. I miss being able to speak my mind in public without worrying about the fuss it would kick up. I want to go home, but I know I can't until Matt and I are done here.

But if I can't go home just yet, I'll try to remind myself of all the little details, good and bad, about the place I love so much. I joined the Alberta Blogs today.