Introduction

I figured I would use this first post to tell you a little about myself. First, I’m not one that typically writes in a journal, so this will be a new adventure for me. I’m starting this pretty late in life as well, so you’ll have to bear with me as I venture into something new.

After serving in the United States Air Force, I wasn’t ready to return to my hometown of Pearland, Texas and I best friend, Kevin was living in Clinton, Maryland. I asked him if I could come stay with him for a while until I could find a place of my own. He of course said “of course”. He timed a flight to San Antonio to meet me as I was departing the military, so we could take a road trip across country as I made my way to Maryland to see what was next in store for me.

Unfortunately, the job market for me wasn’t great in Maryland, in 1992. My savings was beginning to dwindle and I really needed a job, so I went to a local pet boarding facility and applied for a kennel position. I was promptly told that I was “over-qualified” for the position. I explained that I really just wanted a job to have an income while I searched for a career position. Ultimately, they did not hire me for that job. Instead, a day or two later, I received a phone call form the owner of the boarding facility telling me that while she felt I was over-qualified for the position at the kennel, she felt I would be an excellent fit for a new position in a new business they were about to open; an emergency veterinary practice.

We schedule a meeting at the new facility to discuss the position, but I was adamant that this would just be temporary, as I was going to continue looking for a job that I really wanted. I soon realized that I “kind of” enjoyed what I was doing here and ended up staying with this business for a couple of years before making the decision to move back to Texas. This job got me started in what would turn out to be a 23 year career in the veterinary world. In addition to that, I met and hired, what would eventually turn out to be my wife, Christina.

Fast forward 17+ years and I find myself once again working with Christina at the best veterinary hospital around. I made some wonderful friends here, but lost an incredible friend and mentor while here. After Willie Wickel passed away suddenly, his widow, Julie and I worked together to continue what they had started together until the appropriate time arrived to sell the practice.

In 2019 that time arrived and we ended up selling the practice to another business. They presented themselves as the perfect company to take over what Julie and Willie had worked so hard for, for so many years, and it felt like the right place for me to take my career to the next stage in my life. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned and I quickly made the decision to leave that organization, as did Christina and ultimately Julie.

On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, Christina and I opened Texas Sno Fruit in the heart of downtown Alvin. The nationwide “mask order” went into effect on March 19, 2020. Being one of the few businesses opened during this time, those first few months are really kind of a blur. During these first weeks of being open we were eating when would could by whatever means we were able. One particular day called for a quick  trip to pick up take out from one of Alvin’s finest restaurants, Gordon Street Tavern. The owner, Henry mentioned in passing that his local coffee house was going to close and not re-open, as a result of the pandemic.

I asked him to hold off for 24-hours before telling anyone else, and three days later, my new business partner, Jake Starkey and I were the proud owners of a local coffee house. We quickly landed on 1820 Coffee House, which comes from Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Since that day, we have been running almost non-stop. Join me on the next post as I’ll try to pick up where I left off here.