The traditional Vietnamese custom performed on babies' 1st birthday is to have them select from a tray of items representing a profession (for example, a ruler represents a teacher). The saying goes that whatever you pick on your 1st birthday, that will become your profession. Her choices were a ruler, book, pen, tape measure, scissors (we know, we know, not very child friendly), food items, mirror, money, and comb. Well, we waited with baited breathe to see what the future holds for Elise. For a few minutes she just stared at the plate and at all of us. We were probably a sight to see standing around her anxiously waiting to see what she would pick up. Finally after much squealing and laughing, she leaned in and grabbed...a pen! Might there be an author or journalist in her? But then she grabbed the tape measure. Uh, a seamstress? Oh well, as the famous song goes, whatever will be will be, the future is not ours to see...