The "Random Things" Tour

      Inspired by an infant, I am on a tour of random things.  This is a quest to slow down the blistering pace of life and simply stare at objects or scenes.  If I consider these random things long enough, they begin to invoke wonder, peculiarity, humor, curiosity, and profound appreciation.  

     Staring intently at inanimate objects is an odd thing to do in public.  But the "weird factor" is alleviated when you're holding a baby.  

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1st Stop:  My Front Door

     The fleur-de-lis is the symbol of my city, St. Louis.  Here it is painted on a wooden beam next to the front entrance to our home.  (It came with the house.)  Fleur means "flower" and lis means "lily."  It has a host of meanings, most notably with the French monarchy.  The city of St. Louis is named after King Louis IX (1214-1270), the only monarch to be canonized as a saint.  

    The fleur-de-lis has Christian roots, said to symbolize new life and purity (the lily) as well as the Trinity.  After staring at it a while, my neighbor walked over and asked, "You gonna repaint that after it chips off?"  We'll see . . .