"I was not prone to drastic actions. I did not rush into the unknown.
After fifteen years as a more or less effective lawyer, I approached
decisions with a certain caution. I not only weighed the pros and cons
but also examined all likely consequences and reasonably foreseeable
risks. Looking back, I wondered what could have prompted me to take
those initial steps down a path that would alter the course of the rest
of my life armed with only an optimistic hunch and knowledge that
turning back was not an option."
Minnesota-born lawyer Jeff and his partner, Dean, enjoyed a successful
and fashionable life in London. They shopped at Harvey Nichols, walked
their dogs in Kensington Gardens, and vacationed in France and Tibet.
Yet, they dreamed of a new life. In January, Jeff was promoted to a
coveted position at his bank; in March, he resigned. Jeff and Dean sold
their house, packed the dogs, and moved to the sleepy resort town of
Hayward, Wisconsin, where they acquired a nos-talgic ice cream shop and
a rundown Victorian mansion.
Scoop: Notes from a Small Ice Cream Shop is the chronicle of Jeff and
Dean's first year in Hayward--how they are welcomed by a collection of
colorful characters and how they are humbled by the challenges of
operating both the ice cream shop and a bed and breakfast. It is also a
story of Hayward and how the traditions and the stories of those who
built the town helped our entrepreneurs adjust to the rhythm of life in
their new home.
