Decades on the truck. Still talking.

I've spent decades working in emergency medical services. In that time I've seen the best and worst of humanity — sometimes on the same shift. I've run calls at three in the morning, sat on the bumper of the rig wondering how the world keeps turning, and laughed harder with my partners than I ever thought possible in a job like this.

Along the way I picked up a few things: how to stay calm when nothing else is, how to teach the next generation without scaring them off, and how much a good cup of coffee matters at the end of a long night.

The Gray Beard Chronicles is my chance to step outside the ambulance and connect with people through the things I care about — great coffee, good bourbon, a quality cigar, motorsports, and honest conversations. Some of it is educational. Some of it is therapy. Most of it is just me telling stories.

I'm not a corporate spokesperson and I'm not going to pretend to be. If I like something, I'll tell you. If I don't, I'll tell you that too. And when it comes to the hard stuff — the calls that stay with you — I'll be honest about that as well, because somebody needs to be.

Whether you're a first responder, a coffee fanatic, a race fan, or just someone who appreciates a straight answer, you're welcome here.

— The Gray Beard