Just last week, a man named Roy came into the Ballard store, in need of help packing up and shipping his life to Arizona. We were fortunate enough to learn more about him as we began packing up his artwork and household items. He grew up in Ballard and had a successful career as a musician. Just two weeks earlier, he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a debilitating disease that slowly takes over the body. Roy lamented that he now takes the same medication as Michael J. Fox, who also suffers from Parkinson’s. A few friends had suggested he move to Arizona to be near them, it was certainly more affordable than Seattle, with the added benefit of sunshine. Roy enjoyed his latte that day while he watched Nathaniel pack his items with care. He came back a few more times that week, sometimes to ship, other times to just say hello. Roy’s story is about a man who entered Sip and Ship as a stranger and left as a friend.
There are hundreds of these kinds of stories and life events that we get to be a part of every day. Just knowing that we have the chance to impact someone’s day in some small way empowers our team to look beyond the transaction and closer at the individual, to provide the kind of care you would expect from a good neighbor, friend, or family member, and for that, we are grateful for each day.