Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight
Chapter 2: Discovery
Monday mornings can be the worst sometimes. I am not a morning person. Getting up at 5am sucks, but when you have a business to run and a store to open at 7am, there isn't much choice in the matter. My parents opened Swan Feed and Supply a year after they married as a way to invest the money my dad received when his parents passed away. Over the years they've gotten quite the return on their investment, needless to say, I've had a comfortable life.
Growing up I always knew I'd be involved in some way with the store. I started working there loading and later delivering hay when I was a freshman in high school. My dad ran the front, while my mom handled all of the administrative and financial aspects of the business. I was always intrigued by what she did and knew that I wanted a business degree. I was always very smart and did exceptionally well in school. When I was 16 I decided to duel enroll so I could get a jump start on my M.B.A. When I graduated high school not only did I receive my high school diploma, but also my associates degree in business administration. I transferred in as junior at the University of Florida a month before my 19 birthday.
College was supposed to be the best years of my life, but little did I know tragedy would strike. It was New Year's Eve and my parents and I were leaving a barbecue and bonfire hosted every year by my dad's best friend Billy and my mom was driving since my dad had been drinking. It was pretty dark driving through the woods, we don't have many street lights out here in the country, but we've made this drive so many times we could do it in our sleep. There were no street lights at a particular 4-way stop and the truck didn't have it's headlights on, so we never saw it coming. My mom's Ford Escape was hit on the driver's side by a Dodge 3500 at 65 mph. My mom died on impact, my dad had to have surgery to fix his ruptured spleen from the force of the seatbelt, and I suffered a broken leg and bruised ribs. The kid driving was only 18 years old and had a blood alcohol level twice over the legal limit.
I ended up taking the semester off to recover, but was more determined than ever to finish school so I could continue what my mom started. I had to keep the store going in her memory.
~ CN ~
The great thing about running a family store is that even though I have my MBA, I don't have to wear a suit. I wear my favorite pair of Hollister jeans and a T-shirt. I'm not opposed to getting dressed up, but a pair of Justin boots are far better than a pair of 6 inch heels. I'm not a tomboy, but I'm no girly girl either. I love to get my hair and nails done and dress up to go out with my friends, but I also love hitting the mud hole and hanging out around a bonfire drinking beer in jeans.
This particular Monday morning is going to busy, along with the rest of this week. I have orders to place, deliveries to set up, and payroll to take care of before I take the next week off. It's the beginning of summer and the local mud hole is re-opening for the season. I'm going to camp out and ride my 4-wheeler through the mud opening weekend, then spend the rest of the week fishing at the lake near the mud hole. I've done this every year since I turned 16. On occasion I'll take my truck out to get a little dirty too. It's a great bonding experience for me and my friends.