THE BIZARRE AND CREATIVE TITLES THAT NEARLY DEFINED OUR STATES Names That Almost Were
Covington
Frankfort
Louisville
Lexington
TRANSYLVANIA
Owensboro
Bowling Green
One of the first things you likely learned was the name of your home state, but what if everything you knew about your state’s namesake could have been different? Prepare for a journey through the quirky and bizarre world of almost-names for states! The early days of American statehood were filled with creative, peculiar, and downright odd suggestions. Let’s look into history and uncover the surprising stories behind the names that could have been. Kentucky Kentucky’s famous horse race was almost known as the Transylvania Derby, but it has nothing to do with vampires. In 1775, a businessman named Richard Henderson established the Transylvania Company and signed a treaty with the Cherokee tribe, securing land known as the Transylvania colony. However, Henderson’s treaty failed as Virginia had already claimed the land. Years later, in 1792, those living on Henderson’s attempted purchase broke away from Virginia to become Kentucky. Despite naming the state themselves, the residents couldn’t decide whether the state’s new name meant “prairie,” “land of tomorrow,” or “river of blood.” Utah When Brigham Young, the leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints (widely known as the Mormon church), moved the congregation
west, they settled in the Salt Lake Basin.
He petitioned Congress to create a new state for them and settled on Deseret, after a name in the Book of Mormon, one of their scriptural texts. The government declined the request until 1896, granting them statehood in a smaller area than they had originally hoped for. They still didn’t get their desired name, though; the government named the state Utah after the Ute tribe that called the area home. Nevada The name Humboldt almost became the name of the state of Nevada. It comes from explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, who helped popularize scientific exploration. Though he traveled thousands of miles across Central and South America, he never made it to the Western United States. So, when Nevada became a state in 1864, they used the Spanish word for “snow-covered” instead. History is full of “what ifs” and whimsical alternatives that could have shaped our country. These almost-names remind us of the rich tapestry of the past and the imagination that defines our nation.
STRATEGIES FOR HANDLING HEATED HOLIDAY DISCUSSIONS Feast Without Fuss
Families don’t always share the same views on certain topics. Many of us have experienced a family gathering where politics, religion, or even sports rivalries have caused conversations to erupt in chaos, leaving us feeling stressed, frustrated, or even angry. You can’t choose your family, and there will likely be occasions throughout the year when you’ll spend time with them. Near the end of November, we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving, one of the quintessential family holidays. Since it’s an election year, there’s a chance conversations will become heated if your family is politically diverse and has different views. However, Thanksgiving is not the time to become disagreeable and pick at family members with different beliefs. One of the best ways to avoid uncomfortable conversations during family gatherings is to be intentional with your questions and responses. Try your best to avoid bringing up any topics that could send someone on a tirade or cause hurt feelings. If you don’t know where to begin, here are a few conversation starters to break out during Thanksgiving:
•
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
• What is the nicest thing someone did for you this year? • What is the nicest thing you did for someone else? • What’s your favorite food to eat on Thanksgiving? • If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
These topics are light and friendly, allowing anyone to jump in on the conversation. That said, some people will still try to force divisive topics into the conversation. If there’s no getting around it, try your hardest not to push back on their opinions. Instead, try to deflect by saying things like, “I’ve never thought about it that way before.” If they ask for your thoughts, just turn it around and ask for their opinions. And if it becomes too spirited, remove yourself from the conversation and go for a walk. It doesn’t matter if you’re attending a wedding, funeral, holiday feast, or other family event — don’t let conflict and differing opinions detract from the reason for your gathering. Enjoy the moment and your time with loved ones!
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