I opened the squeaky screen door and let it slam behind me. It was a beautiful warm summer day, the birds were singing their morning song. I stepped into the yard and ran over to our very large, made from scratch but with love and care, rabbit hutch. Said hello to “Vanilla” my albino rabbit and scolded my sisters rabbits “Chocolate” and “Butterscotch” for the mess of they made. Said a "Hello" to Mrs. Garwood through the giant lilac bush that separated our yards, then jumped on my banana seat bike that sported my middle name “Cherie” and off I went on my usual route. I rode down our street and loved every sound the sidewalk made under the wheels of my bike. The side walk had a song that I can hear like it was yesterday, my favorite was when I rode over the steam tunnel covers and it would make a low bellowing noise. My first stop was at my best friends house across the street to see if she wanted to join me and then off we went. CM dorm had the best hill in town to a 7 year old. I would go up then down, then up then down, one side was steeper than the other so it took a few times for me to have the courage to go the other way. Amazing how at that age I felt so safe on my daily rides, everyone I would pass would have a smile and wave. If I was ever to fall or get hurt there was always someone there and they knew exactly who I was and where I lived. My next stop was under the over pass between the Founders Hall and the Admin Bldg. where I would love the echo my voice made under it and we would play “Post office” with the holes in the wall.
Next was the Bookroom to see if they had the new Elizabeth Gail book that I had saved all my nickels, pennies and quarters to buy. That was also the spot I would set up my Lemonade stand that summer to make that spare change that was weighing my pockets down. Didn’t take long with the students and staff that were also out enjoying the warm day in “The Square”. The best business days were “Senior Quest” or “Homecoming”, we saw more loonies and toonies from those crowds.
Then it was time to head for home. That route would change, sometimes we would check out what was going on over at Parable Place or the Tab. Make a stop at the bakery to mooch a few cookies or we would go down the bumpy gravel road by the Greenhouse and pray we would make it without wiping out on a pot hole. Just as my house was in sight the temptation of Majak’s Park was just to much and had to make a quick detour. The large piece of wood that sloped downward to join the sidewalk to the road wobbled and rumbled as I would lift my feet off the pedals to “fly” down it.
That park was nothing short of amazing to this 7 year old. The spinning vortex where I nearly took my arms out of the socket holding on for dear life. The merry-go-round made of fiber glass that made my hands itch, later change to a pump merry-go-round that could reach mach10 with the right people pumping! The monkey bars and the swings that told my mom exactly where we were with their rusty songs. And at the sound of my mom calling us in for dinner it was a hop skip and a jump to our back door.
Our afternoons consisted of playing in our “Fred’s Place” A- frame playhouse that my dad made out of two old ping pong tables and later added on a slide, monkey bars, and basketball hoop. (Yah he is pretty amazing!) A water fight with our neighbor Mr. Birch or a bike ride over to the Junior High where my dad was working on some sort of project. 
Oh the Junior High, was like my second home. We spent countless hours sliding down the varnished banisters, playing hide and seek or tag in the hallways and classrooms, acting out a story or being the star of our own concert on the stage in front of all the empty benches. Our favorite thing, a luxury, was playing computer games on the old Apples. It was particularly AMAZING when we got Crystal Caves in color!! We would also spend some time “helping” our dad, ripping the hole punched edges off the printer paper and then quickly be distracted with origami master pieces from those long endless strips of paper.
If it was a tuesday we would make a stop at the Tilly on our way home and see what treasures we could find. If we were driving my dad had the gravel road mastered as not to hit the pot holes, too hard. I think if I were to drive that road again I would still know the weaving pattern we took home.
Our 1000 sq. ft house, felt like a mansion. I have yet to find a place that has more hiding spots than that house did. If only the squeaky floors didn’t give us away all the time. We had a nook and cranny everywhere you looked thanks to Mr.Keller's excellent craftsmanship. From the secret passage way from my room to my sister’s room, to the laundry shoot for a quick escape to the basement. We had a secret staircase that pulled out to offer a ledge leading to a door that accessed our clothes line without even going outside. The cellar that would bring us pet frogs every spring and the avocado coloured fridge and stove that my mom so beautifully tied into her watermelon decor.
Countless "adopted" sisters and brothers (college students) that were always invited for dinners, holidays, or just to have a little taste of home. Birthday parties and gymnastics in the West Gym. Learning to skate at the out door rinks, and the heated skate shack. Dodgeball and floor hockey tournaments in the East gym with the drawings of athletes covering the curved dome ceilings. What a privileged life I lived. Everything a child could ask for. That is what Prairie gave this staff kid. The 20 years I spent there were filled with joy and countless memories that I will treasure forever. Not only did I feel rich with possessions, I was growing up with people who showed me God everyday and helped me build that foundation that I could build my relationship with Christ on.
I know time has changed the “look” of Prairie but the feeling is the same. The warmth I feel when I return to that place is like no other. I think of my kids now and how they will never know the freedom and safety I felt as a child. Prairie gave me memories that I could go on for hours about, I am proud of the place that “raised” me!
If you ever have the chance to visit Prairie...do it! You will not be disappointed!
