Long ago, in the small town of Rural Retreat, Virginia, a kind pharmacist named Doctor Charles Taylor Pepper lived with his wife, Belle Howe, at their home, Grassland. He loved to tinker with flavors, much like some people tinker with clocks. After months of experimenting, he created a drink unlike anything anyone had tasted — sweet, spiced, and refreshing.

His friends and neighbors loved it, and the drink became a quiet local favorite in his store, Dr. Pepper's Drug Store.

Crises rarely arrive on schedule, and for some families, they arrive more than once—each time revealing new truths about resilience, fear, and decision-making. In a family business, one thing is certain: challenges will arise. That's a more optimistic way to put it, but the truth remains: stuff happens. The key is how you respond to the crisis. Will you continue doing things the same way, change, adapt, or close your doors and move on? This is a story about my family’s business, Ratajack’s, and how they faced a crisis.