Have we gotten so far removed from good customer service that we anticipate only salesmanship?

While so much of the country has been made to endure scorching heat this summer, those of us in the Pacific Northwest have scarcely seen the sun.

I'll get this out of the way... I own a dress shop, so maybe I'm in my own little universe. This might not apply to most of you. But I'd like to make the case for Dress Up Fridays.

Chopped [chopt]: -slang

Local slang, used to mean the intentional matching or coordination in color or pattern of articles of clothing and accessories.

I’m just like Lewis or Clark. I found this place.

No really, I did. OK, so I wasn’t the first to find it. I’d heard tales of “The West.“ The Beautiful West. Knowing I’d move from my home state of Louisiana, I wanted to go to this place that my newfound friends had come from, or told me about. My tribe would be there. Hiding in the mountains.

Find something you love to do and figure out a way to make a living at it. That’s the path toward a fulfilling work life. May every one of us find it some day.

My path has been a curvy one. Secretary and newspaper reporter. Waitress, baker, chef. Public relations and graphic design. And lastly - currently - clothing designer under the label Big Brown Eyes. I’ve changed hats so many times my hair’s a mess. The occupations I found most rewarding were the ones where I put my hands to use: feeding people and clothing people. It could just be I’m a people pleaser and with those, I get to see people’s smiles when their bellies are full or they look pretty spiffy.