1807291507 – When it came to negotiating certain behavior with Mia, everything was on the table so to speak. I’m convinced she learned this from her older brother, Casper. Back in the early days of our time together, Lisa and I took Casper and Mia to Fort Bragg, CA for a weekend trip. As we drove through the Northern California Wine Country of Mendocino County we decided to stop at a small, boutique winery along the way. After sampling some of the wine, we purchased a few bottles and some light snacks, then grabbed a table among the beautifully landscaped grounds. This is, to the best of my recollection, the first time that Casper casually jumped up on the table and took a seat among the food. He acted as if it were just a normal, everyday practice and no one would pay attention let alone interfere with his decision. Lisa and I just laughed, entertained by the confidence he exhibited in taking his seat “at the table.” Mia witnessed the outlandish action and our reaction to it, then decided this was good and the way it should be. The rest is history as you can see in this picture taken seven or so years and many tabletops later – Harriman Reservoir in Wilmington, VT.

