Start Me Up.

My passion and desirous love for coffee has served me well since I was two.

One sip was all it took to boost my energy. Inhaling its aroma was all it took to calm my nerves and bring me home. Heck, the mere thought of coffee has kept me going during many times of turmoil!

Working with my dad's espresso machine at home for over ten years, and working at Kaladi Brothers Coffee has satiated this love I have for these itty bitty beans, but I never thought that it would save me during this time of uncertainty.

I never thought that it would give me purpose and allow me to help someone fulfill their passion, and yet here I am!

With my mom in the midst of opening up a coffee shop of her own in an Alaskan train car, I have been tasked and assigned in helping her create a menu, design the space, and advise her on the flow and workings of all that goes on behind the bar.

And boy do I have a lot to say about that!

For the first time in awhile, I feel inspired to learn as much as I can about coffee, through growing, picking, processing, roasting, serving, and my favorite part: drinking! My spark has been ignited once more and I feel that I am here for a reason, a purpose.

Allowing myself to be in a position of management, and of helping my mom, I see that this opportunity, whilst seemingly "off track", is, in fact, actually putting me on track.

According to the wise words of Thomas Edison: "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like hard work."

While this job doesn't have me in overalls, it does require me to put my conductor's cap on and use some skills that have yet to be showcased.

And while this job doesn't have me shoveling coal in the boiler, it will have me shoveling coffee in the pot. So kinda the same thing.

Fish, Love, and Music.

I've finally just recovered from a weekend full of work. 

And instead of anticipated slow sales, we were graced with the presence of many a traveler on their way to or from Alaska's most "compelling and dynamic" event in the state.

It's dubbed: Salmonfest.

Hey, if it involves Alaska, it's involving our most popular fish!

I myself have never ventured to the Ninilchik campgrounds, even though they're a mere 45 minutes away to attend this iconic Alaskan event. A three day festival of "Fish, Love, and Music", they "emphasize and celebrate the connection of all Alaskans to the fish and waters that provide this magnificent resource."

For awhile, it didn't necessarily appeal to me. Crowds, crowds, more crowds, and not to mention the legalization of pot now available in the state. To me, it sounded like a hippie fest!

But if there's one thing I've learned recently, it's to not judge books by their cover. While I wasn't able to visit due to a working weekend, I was able to interact with fellow fish lovers who had attended.

Between the responses of "totally rad!" and "quite fun", my curiosity piqued and where I once felt distaste for this seemingly hippie festival, I instead felt camaraderie and likeness to these... slightly stinky but very smiling Alaskans.

I'm finding that the more I live here, the more  I interact with these people, and the more time I spend outdoors, the more it clicks in me why folks live here.

It's a special state, that's for sure. It's completely "off the beaten path" (no, literally), and I'm learning to appreciate these people who have, like me, either made the bold move to live here, or have toughed it out since they were born. 

Who knows, maybe I'll venture down to Salmonfest some year and instead of smoking pot, I'll bring along my own salmon and have a puff at that. I think Alaskans would definitely appreciate my humor.

I'll be smoking salmon! Do you get it?

Little shoutout to the sixties! If it's the 50th anniversary of the "Summer of Love" and a celebration of Alaskan's most popular festival, I'm definitely wearing something from the sixties..