Past Louisville

I’m in heaven. Really this is Knoxville, Tennessee and a former homestead during the college years. We arrived early Friday afternoon following a disappointing bout of nostalgia through Louisville, Kentucky. Knoxville is our furthest destination east before I head to my 20th High School reunion in Memphis via a stop to my aunt’s house in Nashville - the Tennessee trek.

I’m sitting on Mama Tried’s back deck (the one build by the Handyman) and listening to the cicadas. It's the one sound I miss the most in my pacific northwestern life. I am finding this travel back to the south to be disorienting; some things are the same and many things have changed beyond recognition. My southern comfort tonight is in the ebbing siren of the cicadas while I sit outside in perfect October temperatures with the autumn sun setting a soothing golden glow over the backyard maples. The light is picturesque and even the mosquito nibbling my ear doesn’t bother me in this serene setting.

On Thursday we scooted through four states on a detour to Louisville: Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. Passing through St. Louis, I double-checked my route at a rest stop in preparation for an Interstate change. I noticed that I would have to hitch on a state highway to avoid the interchange from 70 to 64. But along the way, due to construction, I was detoured and managed to circle the entire city before reaching its limits. It took over an hour and a half and waned my patience. It was not nearly as irritating as our experience in SLC, so I shrugged it off and plowed through to a lunch break in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. I’m glad that state was a quick pass because the speed limit dropped to an intolerable 65 mph.

I was looking forward to landing in Louisville – pronounced Lou-E-ville by natives – and looking for old friends. The drive through these midwestern states was unbelievably gorgeous. I passed through gauntlets of amber and fire tipped trees as the leaves began their seasonal change. I could not have timed this trip better with the scenic views. I was excited and nervous on the way to Louisville. When the bridge crossing the Ohio River into Kentucky revealed the cityscape of Louisville, my spirits soared. I pulled off the interstate when rush hour traffic slowed us to a halt and tried to remember my way. 

After a couple of redirections with the aid of a map, I found my old apartment. The neighborhood at the end of an up and coming street 10 years ago was stacked from brick wall to brick wall with hip-ness. It made me feel unsteady and a little old. Some of the same anchor stores were still there, but the street was now in the leagues with Melrose in LA – I was blinded by coolness. Had it been that way when I lived there, I may never have left; but I was too full of myself and too eager for the west coast.

I don’t know what I was expecting to find there, but I didn't feel a connection. I decided to motor on to a hotel and look some folks up in a phone book. I ran into some bad traffic and was limited to a night’s stay with my Best Western gift card. (Due to some owed reimbursements ala G’s employer, I was low on available cardage.) I found a BW by anxiously pulling off at a rest stop where I used my fancy iPhone internet technology. We stayed in Shelbyville with a reasonable rate and excellent wifi plus amenities. The girls were treated to their nightly reward of the Cartoon Network while I set to work to look up old pals. 

I found no one. Not one. People move, change their names, use cell phones. I had to let go of a time as I drove out of a place that no longer exists. It was an unsettling feeling, being untethered by ties undone. Once when I returned by bicycle to the small German village where I lived for several years as a child, I was greeted to an unusually warm welcome with everything short of a parade welcoming home the “Little American Girl”. It’s not that I was expecting the same homecoming in Louisville; maybe I expected to feel more, like an ownership. I only lived there for 18 months and knew the minute I rolled into town that I wouldn’t stay long.

I gave up after an unprofitable internet people search attempt and left Louisville in the past. We ate a crappy dinner at an all you can eat Asian buffet and fell asleep to the static sounds of cable television fading in the background. In the morning I slept in and packed my hopes for a more assured reunion in Knoxville. It was a quick drive and was elated to reach Mama Tried waving us into her driveway.

The last couple of days have been a much need respite from the road before we journey again on Wednesday. I’ve caught up on sleep, replenished supplies, and basked in the renewal of old friendships. Not to mention a lovely outing to a pumpkin patch for a hay ride and plucking orange bumpy gourds. I hope to store up this gorgeous weather since the forecast at home is all rain.

Comments

[Kate Saltfleet]

It's a weird one that, going back to a place you used to live. A couple of years ago I went to visit some friends who still live in Bangor where I went to college (that's Bangor North Wales, not Bangor Maine). I lived there for 5 years yet when I went back I felt no connection at all.

[Megan]

You always have awesome photos.

[Unfit Mother]

Kate, I don't even know where Bangor, Maine is =;?} I immediately thought India, but I understand what you mean about time travel.

Thanks Megan!

[Fighting Windmills]

The phrase "blinded by coolness" made me laugh. It's fun to read about your trip. Make the most of it!

[louisville apartments]

Your post made me smile.
It's ok at least you visited your family.
Great views.

Margaret Rodriguez