A recounting of the transition - over the precipice and let's hope these glidy wing things actually work.

I knew I was going to resign at some point in the near future.  It would have been another year possibly before I moved on.  I wanted to leave when I felt they were ready to take over.  Circumstances forced my hand early, and it was time to depart from a beautiful business which I co-founded with my parents and ran with deep passion for 7 years.  It was the only true job I had ever known, and it instilled in me an abiding commitment to the empowerment of people with disabilities and others who are disenfranchised.  No sugar--the process of leaving was painful in many ways, and it left me with a lot of humility and personal understanding.  Nevertheless, it was time to figure out what the fuck to do next basically.  I tried out a bunch of things.

First, I tried doing some jobs with a great guy and great contractor named Rick.  He was generous enough and trusting enough to allow me to work with his crew for a couple weeks.  It was awesome, and really educational, and I enjoyed it a lot.  I learned how to frame in walls, how to demolish shit, how to tile, how to pull nails good. 

For a couple months, I also worked at a local lumber mill.  Another great guy, and a master miller and wood craftsman named Scott was gracious enough to allow me to work with him (this is a micro-mill and Scott is the only employee) and learn from him.  I soaked up all I could about everything.  Tools, woods, how to build shit like tables and wine cellars, how to be a general badass. 

Neither of these things stuck though.  Creeping up during this experimental time was this new burning passion.  Food.  After trying wood, I realized I needed to do food.  Wood was awesome, and I love everything about building shit and making good wood, but it is a tough business to get into and as far as I could tell, there is a cap on how much a guy can ever make doing those things without becoming a corporate asshole.  I admire and respect Rick and Scott for doing what they do the way they do it.  Honestly.  With utter integrity.  With care and respect for the materials and the customers.  With an eye on detail and undying devotion to quality.  But food.  Fooooood.  I could do food the way they do wood and building.  Time to find a way to do it.