Setting: lazy afternoon with two visitors staying with us for two days. One girl from Paris and another from Milan.

Scene: My older son offered to make them his special iced coffee and as he was about to pour vanilla into their glasses I shouted, “Wait! Vanilla? Italians would hate ruining their caffé with vanilla! You’re assuming they will like vanilla because you do.”

“And you’re assuming that because you don’t like vanilla they won’t either,” he said.

We argued a bit on this point (it’s amazing how a dumb little argument can get out of control so quickly) and then I asked the Italian girl who told me, “You thought that just because I’m Italian I won’t like vanilla in my coffee? I do like it…”

(Of course she’d side with the cute guy over me!)

I learned my lesson. Never interfere in someone else’s coffee-making. Never assume people won’t like cinnamon, chocolate or vanilla in their coffee just because you don’t. Because – and I love this expression – when you assume you make an ass out of u and me. Guilty as charged.

“You must stick to your conviction, but be ready to abandon your assumptions.” — Denis Waitley

Which leads me to remind you: Free Starbucks Coffee Giveaway (one pound of ground) is going on now. Last day to enter. Don’t be bashful. Leave a comment and bingo! Winner will be drawn using random.org’s random numbering and announced tomorrow!