Karolyn Denson Landrieux
Bio
Karolyn lives in Paris and Pittsburgh. She loves travel and has travelled most of the world, she enjoys time at home with family. Whether it's cooking, painting, designing or writing, creativity is her passion. @karolynd88 @maxineandbeanie
Stories (39/0)
My husband
I met my husband 13+ years ago. I wasn’t looking for a relationship at the time. We were friends before it turned into something more. Despite so many obvious differences we had so many more similarities. We are from different cultures, ethnicities, socio-economics, age groups and have different religious beliefs. Yet we connect so well. We have a similar sense of humor. We both love old movies and classic music. We love the theater and outdoors. We like the beach and sun. We like the mountains and hiking. We love family, wine and food. We’re still different enough to keep it interesting as well.
By Karolyn Denson Landrieuxabout a year ago in Families
The Audacity of a Child
My youngest granddaughter judges me. Frankly she judges everybody, but she judges me for having crumbs on the dining room, kitchen and often living room floors. She judges me with so much audacity. The crumbs on my floor are exclusively because of her but that doesn’t deter the judgment. I watched her throw a clump of rice from her high chair table onto said floor because it was “too loud”, yet she still judges me. Her “Gigi, there are crumbs” is said with so much indignation that I am speechless. Anyone that knows me knows that speechless doesn’t usually happen. When I let her know that she was almost solely responsible for the crumb situation, I am completely ignored. I get side eye and more judgment if any acknowledgment at all for my comment. This is the same little girl that would remove her soiled pull-up after nap time and throw it overboard from her crib to land mid-room. When her mommy would ask her why there is a nappy on the floor, and if she was responsible for it’s location, she would reply “ I don't see it” shooing her away with a royal wave of her tiny hand. I want to live my life with that kind of audacity.
By Karolyn Denson Landrieuxabout a year ago in Families
The Importance of Great Customer Service
I decided to take a detour this week from my usual content to talk about customer service and the importance of how you make people feel. It doesn’t matter what business that you own or in what industry that you work, the way your clients feel is exponentially more important than your product.
By Karolyn Denson Landrieux2 years ago in Serve
Late Summer in Paris
Late Summer in Paris There are a lot of reasons why I love Paris. It’s a beautiful city. There are the obvious ones that everyone knows about. The architecture, art, culture and food are always the things that standout in most people’s minds. Paris is the city of lights. It is romantic and charming. This time of year is one of my favorites. It’s still warm and sunny during the day but cooler and breezy in the evenings. Not quite sweater weather but quickly heading in that direction. There are a fewer tourists wondering about. Thankfully! Tourist summers here are very unpleasant. As a tourist I would avoid summertime in Europe, especially Paris. Paris always has tourists though, always! It doesn’t matter what the season is. However, for the most part most of them have left by now to prepare for the return to school and work. The streets are a lot more quiet. Many of the shops are empty; their owners still enjoying their holidays wherever they are. I love it here this time of year.
By Karolyn Denson Landrieux2 years ago in Confessions
Pivot
Pivot… The Middle Years Pivot!!! That seems to have been the battle cry of 2020. I had previously heard the terminology being used mostly by my corporate friends. It never occurred to me that I would ever be in the position to do that. Pivot. Yet here I am. 2 years after my unexpected and sudden retirement reinventing my entire life. I went from international flight attendant and purser extraordinaire, at least in my mind, to writer and publisher of children's books and media.
By Karolyn Denson Landrieux2 years ago in Journal
Life After 60 Whilst Living in Paris
I turned 61 this past Wednesday. I’m still trying to process it. I’m in that weird place in life now. Somewhere between middle aged and senior. Also known as the invisible years. Perhaps its easier living in Paris although I am not completely sure that this is categorically true . This age is probably difficult anywhere if you are a woman.
By Karolyn Denson Landrieux2 years ago in Motivation
Strong Women
My grandmother was the daughter of a freed slave and a mixed race mother. She ran away to marry my grandfather when she was only 15. My mother was the babygirl of 3 older sisters. When my grandmother left North Carolina she only had an 8th grade education. That was all most women of color were permitted in the 1920’s , if even that. My grandfather worked 3 jobs to take care of his family while my grandmother was a house wife. She would prepare breakfast for her family of 9 then read the newspaper every morning.
By Karolyn Denson Landrieux2 years ago in Families
Community
I was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. I spent my childhood in North Braddock, PA to be exact. Pittsburgh is made up of a series of neighborhoods. Each one its own unique flavor. My parents Kathryn and James had a small apartment in Homewood when I came along. One of the many neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. Soon after that we moved to Silver Spring, Maryland. We didn't stay there very long. I believe I was just shy of 3 when we moved back to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is located in what is referred to as the tristate area. That includes Ohio and West Virginia. It’s also referred to as the gateway to the Midwest. It’s not far from a lot of states actually. Maryland, Virginia, Michigan, Kentucky as well as New York are just a few hours drive. Even Canada isn’t very far.
By Karolyn Denson Landrieux2 years ago in Confessions
Turbulence
My friend recently lost a young passenger when she was working a flight. I was a flight attendant for 35 years. I was fortunate enough to never have a passenger die on my watch. We came close but we were fortunate enough to save his life. I can’t imagine how that must feel; losing someone you are fighting so hard to save. In spite of them performing CPR and using all the life saving measures that we have on board the airplane her young life was lost. There are some dark moments when you’re a flight attendant. It’s mostly fun and excitement, yes but we’re trained for the darker things that happen. That’s why we are really there.
By Karolyn Denson Landrieux2 years ago in Serve