I never liked eating breakfast, but I ate it. Probably because I had a good mother. Everyday she'd deliver the line every good mother delivers to her young 'It's the most important meal of the day' and then she'd make me 'eat something' so I'd be ready to learn.

I know now how lucky I was. Not only because I had a good mom who made me eat, but because I came from a home where there was healthy, nutritious food. Such is not always the case.

And now, Spokane Public Schools is picking up where the mother or home can't.

Growing up in Michigan, "Ponderosa" meant one thing: inexpensive buffet dining.  I didn't see my first real-life Ponderosa Pine until I moved to Spokane in 1998.  Now, I'm surrounded by them in my old-growth neighborhood.  They're towering, stately, and to me, epitomize the majestic natural beauty of the Inland Northwest.  

Americans have been celebrating Labor Day for over 100 years. The first observance was on September 5th, 1882 in New York in accordance with the Central Labor Union. It became a nationwide holiday in 1884 after 23 other states had already adopted the holiday in honor of workers.

Here in Spokane we celebrate it with some businesses taking the day off and free parking in downtown Spokane.