In early December, when we adorned our Saskatoon home with holiday lights, there was no snowfall to enhance the festive scene. Despite the absence of the white blanket, I gazed affectionately at our dwelling yet again. Embracing the belief that “Home is where the heart is,” after three years in Canada, we have finally discovered a place to call our own.
The instant my husband, teenager, and I crossed the threshold during our house hunt, we were captivated by the profusion of windows. Sunlight streamed in from all angles, suffusing each room with a cozy, welcoming radiance, even in the basement. “Ma, this feels like home,” remarked my child, a smile adorning their face, a sight unseen for a considerable time. The typical teenage bravado took over as they quipped about the other “perfect” houses we had viewed.
Our new abode exuded beauty in its simplicity and snugness, featuring a front yard that flowed gracefully and a backyard adorned with swaying poplar trees. The allure of the abundant windows further enhanced its charm. It wasn’t grand, nor was it overly spacious or cramped – it was just right. It was a case of love at first sight.
Standing amidst the Christmas lights in our backyard, surrounded by greying greenery and a carpet of fallen leaves, memories of my childhood home in India flooded back. The expansive front lawn with its fragrant jasmine bush and towering sunflower plants, coupled with Mom’s kitchen garden in the backyard, stirred nostalgia within me, evoking deep gratitude for the chance to recreate similar experiences with my family.
The relocation from Delhi to Saskatoon in recent years brought about a whirlwind of uncertainties for us. Our initial home in India, acquired as a young couple, symbolized ownership and the ability to shape a space uniquely to our tastes and dreams. In contrast to my upbringing in a bustling metropolis where high-rise apartments were the norm for the middle-class, our apartment in Delhi, with its generous windows and spacious balconies, became a repository of cherished memories as our family expanded.
Leaving behind our Indian abode to embrace life in Saskatoon felt like leaving a piece of our hearts behind, a sentiment amplified by the impermanence associated with renting. Our rental unit felt sterile, with external cold seeping in and thin walls failing to shield us from the sounds of neighbors. It was a mere dwelling, lacking the warmth and personal touch of a true home. The upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic compounded the transience of our living situation, prompting our decision to purchase a house in September.
Now, nestled in the comfort of our Saskatoon home, I see more than just bricks and mortar – I witness the groundwork for a fresh chapter in our lives. The house has played a pivotal role in our sense of belonging, as we infuse it with souvenirs, laughter, and love. It is a canvas for new memories and milestones, a place where we can establish roots and cultivate a sense of identity.
Saskatoon has transitioned from a mere location on the map to a beacon of hope for us, teaching us that home is not merely a birthplace but a deliberate choice of where we belong.