In 2018, I traveled from Illinois to attend a family reunion in New Orleans for my maternal branches. We had a blast, and I saw cousins I hadn’t seen in decades and met a few cousins I don’t recall ever meeting. I also took the time to check out familiar haunts where I could get comfort food and drinks that are difficult to enjoy anywhere else in the USA. Finally, I had comfort in the fact that I could visit homes in town where my immediate family lived. Overall, the trip felt familiar due to the touchstones of home that were consistent for decades.
Little Name Change on the Prairie
Note: I recognize that for me to write on this topic as a white person with a settler mindset will result in mistakes. Please…