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On A Personal Note:
Well, here we are and you are faced with reading two, yes two, "On a Personal Note' notes...the first deals with the age of dirt...and the second with the hopes and dreams that are inspired by working on an alpaca farm part-time...
Yep, the first piece is about being old as dirt. That is the fate of The Coffeeman as he approaches another full year of living here on this beautiful earth of ours. Tried to have an "old as dirt" sale here on the alpaca farm...but folks thought I was talking about the alpacas we had for sale...I wasn't you see, I was speaking in the first person here! Guess I did not make myself too clear on that one. Needless to say not one customer stepped forward to offer on even one alpaca during that great idea of a sale.
You ever realize that you can be so right on something that you could really be wrong. You know, we convince ourselves of a bunch of stuff and know we are totally correct...know that our every solution would apply to anyone's problem that looked like ours...sometimes we might be right on, but I bet each situation that was/is not our/your own has just enough difference to negate a universal solution. The worst thing is sometimes we look around and see folks doing things to get ahead (or at least stay even)...we think, "I need to do that!" We do it only to find an empty shell, perhaps even a shell game that misleads folks...now that is really being so right we are wrong...don't you think?
That gets me back to my, "old as dirt" sale...you see, there are folks that are saying anything to sell stock...so I fell in line and decided to do the same. Could not pull it off because I really was not selling because of my age getting in the way of taking care of alpacas...it was simply my way of saying to the world, "Hey!!!! We have alpacas for sell over here...come on over and get you some..."
I know that the best way of selling our stock is simply by letting our alpacas sell themselves. They do a great job...as it turns out much better than their older than dirt farmer guy. I also decided that perhaps I had better stick to selling our coffee, because just like the alpacas...it sells itself quite well!
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The Second 'On a personal note' this month is written to share a young man's dream, his struggles, and his persistence. You see Jude and I have known this young fella' for some time and have grown to really care for him and his family. That is where this begins...we first met Roman at the monthly food pantry that our church now sponsors. He was just a "kid" and his family was devoted to helping others, even though they often found that they also relied on the food given out at the monthly pantry to make ends meet.
This kid has grown into a young man with grown up responsibilities, especially since his dad had a disabling head injury that prevents him from being the family bread winner. Roman works three jobs, one of them is as a day laborer on our farm one day a week. He was a regular employee of the farm until he had to quit to take care of his father in the initial phase of needed care.
Well that is the background...now the neat stuff. You see Roman has a dream...he wants to invent the next best skirting table for skirting alpaca (and other species) fleece for shows and for the market (processing). He has a unique design idea that we have been working on for a while now and he is slowly making progress toward his dream...and boy is he excited! I cannot tell you the design but will share that it is something that currently does not exist, that we know of anyhow.
He constantly states that he really wants this to be big so that he can become more independent and provide more independence for his family...his sincerity touches our hearts and we pray that he is successful in meeting his goals and our standards for quality.
Now the kicker...do you know or, better stated, can you give us some hints on how to encourage him while not misleading or giving false hope? I ask this while feeling fully assured that the idea he has for this product is great...but greatness does not always translate to success...or the independence he desires (for himself or his family).
I can tell you Roman has great taste...how do I know? Well, he really likes The Alpaca Bean Coffee...no matter what the roast...now that is great taste! :o) He is already talking about the next best invention that will support the farm's resident coffee roasting company...man, I have to love this kid...even though he is not a kid any longer.
Finally, Roman tells Jude and I that we are his "adopted" Aunt and Uncle...he probably would be better off saying we are his GREAT Aunt and Uncle...maybe then more folks would believe him don't you know! :o) Whatever...keep an eye out...Roman is almost at the point of getting his skirting table ready for the market...his investment of gray matter, time, and downright stubborn determination should yield an exceptional product...cannot wait to see his face when the first one sells...it will be all teeth! :o)
Peace,
The Coffeeman
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