Our Thoughts

Spending time with our kids is something that we can't overdue. Too often the kids seem to find other more important things to do (like hanging out with their friends) than spend it mom and dad. When the kids were younger it was easy. We had complete control and I enjoyed it. Now that they're older, that time with them seems to shrink on a daily basis.

I'm starting to realize that we have to cherish the time we spend with our kids even if it's just time in the car as I shuttle them to their activities. Our sixteen year-old daughter treats us pretty darn good, but keeping the lines of communication open and clear becomes more challenging and more important as the years go by.

My greatest fear is that the kids will choose not to communicate with us. When that happens, problems will appear. It seems that the more you want to connect with them the less they want to communicate with you. So I'm doing what most parents do, walking the proverbial tightrope, not try too hard but hoping to be right there when they do want to talk. Then of course I have to bite my lip when they start talking and just try to be supportive and listen. Oh the joys and challenges of being a parent. It may not be easy, and I might not always get it right, but I wouldn't want it any other way.





In my line of work I meet a lot of business owners who do a lot of interesting things. Make no mistake, running a business is not a simple thing and running a successful business requires a special skill set. Sage Bishop has those skill sets in spades. About 10 years ago I met Sage who had just opened a consignment store called Labels in a renovated house on Ellis Street. Not only was her venture successful it has consistently been voted the “Best Women’s Clothing Store in Bellingham”. A pretty impressive feat when you’re competing against retailers like Macy’s.

Sage knows her customers and delivers what they want: Great clothes at extremely affordable prices. But this mother of two didn’t stop there. She opened a second location on Bakerview which she soon outgrew and then built a new site that expanded their offerings to include home furnishings. Not one to stay idle for long, Sage has again looked to expand with a third location next to Trader Joe’s (in the former Al’s Honda location) on James Street. The transformation of the site is spectacular and will not only include clothes and home furnishings but a nail and facial spa called “Polished”. The grand opening is set for Tuesday, May 7th and this store will not disappoint. The plan is to change the original location on Ellis to LABELS

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