Recall that I went to Starbucks to shadow Jon in order to evaluate that particular option as a career path. Randy had been visiting from his hometown of Lexington, Kentucky. Jon thought it might be nice to have another fellow cup as a friend, so he made sure to introduce us straight away. We started off with the usual pleasantries and small talk but then we both mentioned how we had a particularly crazy relative. I started to tell Randy about crazy Grandpa Ebenezer, who was well known for his sarcastic nature and rambunctious antics. Randy's eyes grew wide. He asked if Ebenezer was known for throwing mashed potatoes up against a wall then blaming his kids for it. It was my turn to have a wide-eyed stare. We had the SAME Grandpa Ebenezer!
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| Grandpa Ebenezer, in his prime |
Growing up, Randy knew all about the family legacy and knew he had a trust fund worth a crazy amount of money. He lead a really charmed life as a kid and has many fond memories but as he got older he found himself always in the middle of arguments and fights. He started to realize that his friends were just hanging around because of all the exclusive events and places they got to go to because of him. He started to spiral into a depression and cut off all of his family. He left all of his possessions in Seattle and became a nomad, hitchhiking around the country trying to find himself. He traveled for three years before ending up in Kentucky. He met a nice homeless man named Frank and ended up being his change cup for six months. Frank was influential in helping turn Randy's life around. He told Randy to make the most of every moment and take nothing for granted...but he still needed to take chances and realize that life isn't all about himself - help other people and continue to learn every day. Be humble and aware of how your actions affect others. Randy decided in that moment that he needed to change course. He found a job at a local independent coffee shop and worked his way up from Tip Jar to Supervisor of Animate and Inanimate Cups (he tried to change the name once...thought the distinction was weird...they refused). He never wanted to try to get a job at any Starbucks because he knew it would be way too easy and was determined to make his own way in the world. Once he saved up enough money, he opened his own Starbucks location which is where he still is today. Oh...Frank works for him now and is no longer homeless!
We met because he was in Indy for a Midwest Starbucks Owner's meeting. He was visiting a friend at Jon's Starbucks which is how we ended up being in the same place at the same time. He actually extended his trip because of me and it has been so amazing to learn his background! Randy has since reconnected with the rest of his family and promised to take me out to Seattle sometime in the near future. He was so open and honest - more real than I could probably be with someone who was, for all intents and purposes, a perfect stranger. We had several deep discussions about life in general over the past few days and I know my life has forever been altered by the wisdom Randy has imparted on me. I will forever be grateful for those lessons! I would say it's a fair bet that we've both made a new friend for life. We ARE distant cousins, after all!
Everyone knows that cousins are the best.
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