I’d like to thank everyone in the coffee shop, everyone who did the right thing today. It took the whole team, I know, to make sure that Acacia and I could sit at this big table. Usually we end up squeezing into the corner, or knocking people over for space at the communal table. But this time, when we really need it, we’re sitting at this properly sized table.

Guy with your iPhone and nothing else – I know you usually like to sit at this table, and play noisy games by yourself, and not even move when there are three tiny, one-person tables open all around you, and we are looking desperately (not to mention obviously) around for adequate space to sit. But today you’re at the big, communal table and I’m grateful. I’m even a bit (I hope you don’t mind me saying this) proud, here today.

Med students who aren’t even going to buy anything but are gonna take up most of the space all day – thank you for using the medium-sized, square tables. They’re here just for you. They’re the perfect size for your big textbooks. I know you relish spreading your stuff all over your un-bought space, but today you have constrained yourself. Today you are not disrupting the ecology and economy of the coffee shop and that’s just so wonderful to see. Thank you.

And last but not least, you – young, angry man with a laptop. I feel your pain, I truly do. It’s awkward to sit there with the two soccer moms having incredibly loud conversation less than two feet from your face. On on your other side is one of those med students, whose music we can all hear blasting through his earbuds. But you gritted your teeth, you plugged in your giant headphones, and you’re getting work done anyway. And over here, at this mesa that is just the right size to hold my wife and I and our coffee shop related belongings, (even if I decide to open this big board game rulebook, which I brought just in case I get my work done) over here we are content. We are at peace. Today we will not struggle. This table doesn’t even have a wobble. It’s an incredible table, and we thank you for it.

Maybe everything really is gonna be okay. Maybe just maybe.