Exhale–summer has finally arrived! Although summer is my second favorite season, the arrival of longer, warmer days and excursions with my family leaves me feeling lucky to live where we live. I’ve been boating, clamming, biking, camping, fishing, planting my gardens and attending the requisite weddings and reunions–and summer has just begun!

There’s something about summertime that always makes me feel much younger than my actual age. Perhaps it’s the permission summer offers to relax a little. It could be something as simple as dipping my toes in a nearby lake or river (see photo), sitting on my deck and enjoying the sounds of the younger children in the neighborhood as they ride their bikes and play outside until nearly 10 p.m. (because they can), hearing the bird symphony at 4 a.m. daily, serving cool rather than warm beverages, cooking and eating outside or taking an afternoon to simply sit in a lounge chair, catch some rays and read a book. It doesn’t seem like a guilty pleasure in the summer. If this type of behavior sounds crazy, then you may need to read the Workaholism article on Page 14. Seriously, summer is a great time to lighten up!

I am anticipating a wonderful harvest from our vegetable garden. There is nothing more delicious than fresh produce from the garden. We’ve planted tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, mint (traditional and chocolate flavored), basil, parsley, oregano and hot (as in heat) peppers. Many of these ingredients wind up in my end-of-summer salsa mix. My parents always bring me a 50 pound bag of Walla Walla Sweet Onions and boxes of fresh peaches (which eventually turn into homemade marmalade). I pick raspberries, blackberries and strawberries to make freezer jam and beg someone else to pick huckleberries for me. I don’t sell my produce, but you can read about the popularity of  farmers and open air markets, how they are growing in Spokane and the statewide economic and community impact of locally-grown produce and products on Page 9.

The annual 20 Under 40 feature profiles local young professionals who are making a name for themselves in their professions. It’s amazing how much these young professionals have achieved already! As I wrote this feature, I was thinking about my first job, at age 11, picking strawberries. It was backbreaking, hot, dirty work. That experience led to years of driving a combine for pea harvest, a truck for wheat harvest, a huge hauling truck for the county rock crushing crew and flagging and painting hundreds of bridge rails and barriers for the county road crew (all before I graduated from college). I can’t say that these jobs were helping with anything other my college tuition, but I can assure you that each and every job made me realize why I needed to finish college; to do the sort of work that I would someday enjoy.

Have you ever wondered where to go for a specific product or service? Look no further than Page 34. Our Inland Business Catalyst readers picked the Best Businesses in 37 categories. These are the best of the best places for B2B products and services.
Our upcoming September/October issue will highlight health care and insurance issues affecting business owners and where to look locally for the best meeting rooms and office space. If you’d like to be part of our reader survey panels or want to know about what’s coming up next, join our Facebook page or send your e-mail address to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Be sure to visit our website at www.ibcatalyst.com for advance notice of upcoming contests, parties and other business opportunities.

Do yourself a favor. Take an hour, a day, a week or a month this summer and just chill. It will do you good; I guarantee it!