Les Villes d'Louis
Apart from my years in the west, where I resided in the territories of old Mexico and Spain, I have grown up in, and been defined by the first western outposts of the French fur traders, namely the cities along the great Midwestern rivers which still bear French names.
Kansas City, my hometown, is from the French "Cansez," and was initially begun by the Chouteau family of fur traders and was known as "Chouteau's Landing." My current temporary home, New Orleans, is the French mother-ship city, spawning French exploration north along the Mississippi and its tributaries.
Beginning next weekend, my new home for the next few months will be Louisville, Kentucky. My husband was not opposed to living somewhere urban for the first time since I met him eleven years ago at Louisville Airport. His sister lives there, as does his very old grandmother. We thought it would be a good place to "jump-off" if we created a new business since the east coast is a day's drive or cheap flight away, and the Smoky Mountains are half a day away--as well as great canoeing just about anywhere. The scenery is much like my beloved Ozarks (also from the French "Aux Arcs"), the climate is a bit more temperate than Kansas City's, and it is much more stable than the hurricane-prone New Orleans-Gulf Coast rain forest climate.
Of course, actually having family there is very nice. And grandmother will be happy to have us around if she is able to comprehend that we actually moved closer to her...she doesn't remember things very well. And she gets stuck on topics. But she's 96 and in pretty good health, barring some arthritis.
So I return to my French trading post roots with this small detour in our bigger plans. Louisville is not a permanent relocation...it is just a good place to spend the summer for now.
Kansas City, my hometown, is from the French "Cansez," and was initially begun by the Chouteau family of fur traders and was known as "Chouteau's Landing." My current temporary home, New Orleans, is the French mother-ship city, spawning French exploration north along the Mississippi and its tributaries.
Beginning next weekend, my new home for the next few months will be Louisville, Kentucky. My husband was not opposed to living somewhere urban for the first time since I met him eleven years ago at Louisville Airport. His sister lives there, as does his very old grandmother. We thought it would be a good place to "jump-off" if we created a new business since the east coast is a day's drive or cheap flight away, and the Smoky Mountains are half a day away--as well as great canoeing just about anywhere. The scenery is much like my beloved Ozarks (also from the French "Aux Arcs"), the climate is a bit more temperate than Kansas City's, and it is much more stable than the hurricane-prone New Orleans-Gulf Coast rain forest climate.
Of course, actually having family there is very nice. And grandmother will be happy to have us around if she is able to comprehend that we actually moved closer to her...she doesn't remember things very well. And she gets stuck on topics. But she's 96 and in pretty good health, barring some arthritis.
So I return to my French trading post roots with this small detour in our bigger plans. Louisville is not a permanent relocation...it is just a good place to spend the summer for now.
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