Life is too short for bad coffee

My youngest loving Gander in our home

I love coffee - particularly good coffee. The beginning of this love affair? Well, I suspect it was sometime in college when a friend introduced me to it, but later on, while student teaching, it became a fond companion as late-night grading and early morning lesson planning became part of my daily routine.

My teaching career then brought late coffee date nights with my husband.

As I’ve grown older, had children and changed careers, my coffee tastebuds also apparently have grown more mature.

While I used to laugh at friends who made fun of my cheap coffee tastes, I now have joined with coffee connoisseurs thanks to my dear husband.

When he makes me coffee, I know it is his ~ it is delicious. Part of that, I am sure, is because he has preferred roasts – usually locally roasted beans.

One of our favorite coffees is Hansa Coffee Roasters Gander’s Choice.

Our friend Lon is a Vietnam Veteran living with post traumatic stress disorder. His service dog, a labradoodle named Gander, assists him with PTSD as well as with mobility. Lon fiercely advocates for service dogs and for those who are indebted to these animals. Part of his mission is to support veterans and active duty military -- and that mission also includes coffee.

I love Gander’s Choice for several reasons:

1.     I love that the coffee tastes and smells awesome! 

2.     I love that when I purchase Gander’s Choice, a portion of the profits goes toward helping veterans living with PTSD and trauma.

3.     I love Lon and his amazing service dog Gander – because they are tireless advocates for the service dog community and for veterans.

Gander reads my kids a story beneath our Christmas tree this weekend.

Gander is a fairly famous dog. I am proud to say my girls have become fast-friends with him. Lon likes to say that he is just a roadie to Gander's show, but we know better. Lon is the reason so many other veterans don't have to worry about access to public places. He is the reason Gander is so well-known. And he is the reason we make time to see the pair when he is in the area. Lon is fascinating, compelling and compassionate. Our world is a little (actually a lot) brighter because of him.

My world was broadened exponentially when Lon took the time a couple of years ago, to reach out to me -- a woman who didn't like dogs -- at a veterans conference. (He always is up for a challenge, and I apparently was next on his list.) I ended up falling in love with (and "liking" the Facebook page of) a dog, of all things! Check out Gander's FB page here and Lon's blog here to learn more about the effect service dogs have on veterans living with PTSD. ABC 7 Chicago just ran an investigative segment featuring Lon and Gander. Find it here!

As I grow older, life seems too short for bad coffee, so I love that I can brew a cup of coffee and know that, at least in a very little way, I am doing something to help others. (It is good coffee in so many ways.)

Proud Gander's Choice coffee drinkers! OK, my husband is taking the photo, but he is the real coffee guy. The kids are pretty excited to have both the coffee bag with Gander's photo on it and the real-life Gander in our family room.