By Randy Capps
It was halfway through a spring Friday in JoCo, and I was over it. I don’t have the space to enumerate the slings and arrows that I had endured on this day, but let’s just say that I was feeling the weight of small business ownership.
My delivery route took me near Evolve Nutrition in Smithfield, and I decided to stop. For a non-coffee drinker, a Mega Lit tea provides Starbucks-like comfort on otherwise rotten days.
I walked in and recognized the face of the young lady behind the counter, but not her name. I ordered a tea and called Shanna to get her order, then started making small talk.
She knew my face, too, it turns out. She worked there years ago, under a different owner, and over the next few minutes, I found out her name.
She’s AnnaKate Gilchrist, and she owns the place now. Naturally, I decided to burden the poor woman with my tales of business ownership woe, and she responded in kind.
“Everyone thinks it’s so glamorous,” she said. “You can be off whenever you want,” I replied. “But all of your work will still be there when you get back.”
She made Shanna a drink called the AK, named after her, which was every bit as tart as my bride requested. I had a “Spring Fling,” which was my attempt to manufacture some good cheer.
It did actually help. Not only the drinks, but a reminder that other people are walking similar paths to the one I’m trudging.
