The symbol of French royalty is the fleur-de-lis.
The surname French originated in France but migrated to the Britain with William the Conqueror, and then to Ireland.
The Irish invented whiskey-making. (Unless you're Scottish, in which case I dinnae ken hoo me bum's oot the windae!)
After the Whiskey Rebellion was put down, many distillers of Scotch/Irish lineage moved to the Kentucky territory.
At the time, Kentucky was part of Virginia--of which Thomas Jefferson was governor.
Jefferson encouraged settlement in Kentucky by offering 60 acres of land to anyone who built a permanent structure there and raised corn.
In order for whiskey to be classified as bourbon, it must be made with a mash that is at least 51% corn.
Many whiskey distillers settled in "Old Bourbon County," so named by Jefferson to honor the French royal family.
One of the biggest markets for bourbon whiskey was New Orleans, Louisiana (where revelers often gather on Bourbon Street).
Jefferson was a friend of King Louis XVI, for whom Louisville, St. Louis, and Louisiana were named.
The fleur-de-lis is a common design element in Louisville, St. Louis, and Louisiana.
The first Dad 2.0 Summit was announced during Mom 2.011. In New Orleans.
St. Louis's Gateway Arch is only a part of the overall Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.
The Louisiana territory was purchased during Jefferson's presidency.
Jefferson later founded the University of Virginia, which is famous for its student honor code.
The French family coat of arms displays the motto "malo mori quam foedari," which means "death before dishonor." (As well as several stylized fleurs-de-lis.)
I attended the University of Virginia, where I drank a lot of (really bad) bourbon.
I just came back from Louisville, Kentucky, where I drank a lot of (really good) bourbon.
I went to St. Louis last year and visited the Gateway Arch. In November.
It is November right now.
If I ever get a tattoo, it will be of a fleur-de-lis.
My surname is French.
All of which means there is no plan for the universe, except that maybe yes there is a little bit.
