It's true what they say (by the way, who is they? -- I always figure it is Reader's Digest) that the world is becoming a smaller place the result of technology and individuals moving around. This has created some interesting situations, such as sushi and Japanese food at Safco Field, the result of Ichiro Suzuki playing for the Seattle Mariners. The Asian snacks and entrees showed up when Seattle got their first superstar from Japan.

I began to understand today, how this same phenomenon has filtered down to smaller businesses, such as my own. As many of you know, a few weeks back I hired a new employee. He is, as far as ethnicity, about as different from me as one could get. But I admire him because he really puts himself into the job of being a home inspector's assistant. He dresses for success and is as enthusiastic an employee as you could ever find. He is a specialist and checks the tension on all electric, phone and TV cables. He is also excellent at checking the crawl space and soffit vent screens to determine that they are not vulnerable to bird, pest or rodent entry.

If you never saw a previous blog about this new employee, I will introduce him again.  You have to know who he is to get the point of all this. His name is Nutsy -- yes a very ethnic name but common among his species. He has a proud heritage and descends from a famous family that you probably heard of over the years. Full name--Nutsy Wallenda.  The on-the-job photo below was taken the other day at an inspection. His pride in having this gainful employment, a professional level job, shows through. Notice that he insists on wearing a white vest at work.

Nutsy is uniquely qualified for his specialty inspections, especially checking all the vent screens. Because of Nutsy's upbringing, what his mama taught him, his traits, tendencies and interests weigh heavily in that direction.  His tail gives him stability, and is part of his ethnicity, and it is crucial for balance and safety as he tests the strength of the various phone and power lines.

The point of this blog is not merely to crow about King of the House having a new employee but to turn the corner and to get back to this issue of ethnicity in the work place. A big problem, since he came on board the payroll, has been "lunch." As an employer, trying to be accomodating, it has been difficult for me to find a place to eat that we can both agree on.  As of yesterday, problem solved. We were working in Lynden, our client pointed out to Nutsy that, just around the bend, was a perfect place for the both of us.

The Nuthouse Grill in Lynden really was perfect. It was good and had a burger and sandwich menu for me and there were jars of peanuts in the shell at every table. You can guess who really went for those. This just goes to show another benefit of the private enterprise system. Never before had there been the need for a cafe that would serve an inspector and his squirrel. But when it was discovered that there was such a need, that niche was filled by a new business. They filled an important void in the local marketplace. Bravo for capitalism!

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections