In a few weeks I will pen my 100th column for this newspaper. This milestone suggests reflection of the road traveled. Almost two years ago I emailed Mike Patrick and asked if I might share my thoughts, ideas and vision for a better world with the readers of the Coeur d'Alene Press. At the time, I was exploring the option of becoming a writer full-time but lacked the discipline to write regularly and thought if I had a deadline, I might force myself to become a disciplined writer. What started as an exercise to force myself to write weekly developed into an opportunity to examine my life's purpose, human behavior, motivation and food. I forced myself to think.

Writing about food, gardening, education and psychology are an interesting dichotomy of disciplines, and many wonder what qualifies me to write about such a wide array of topics. For this purpose, and to celebrate this milestone, I offer my first, Food for Thought, column.

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Welcome to Food for Thought, an exploration into the world of psychology, food and education. I am an educator, psychotherapist and executive chef. Interesting career path one might say? Let's examine the journey.

My working years started in a little mountain town in the west where my grandmother cooked in my high school cafeteria. I volunteered to wash dishes in the cafeteria for which I received free lunch, got out of class early and got to play with my grandma. I loved this job.

Having experience cleaning in the school cafeteria helped secure my first paid job as a dishwasher in a local seafood restaurant. I quickly worked my way up to line cook then Sous Chef. The Executive Chef was trained to cook from his

grandmother and offered great skills. He taught me the fundamentals of culinary arts and to respect the food I cook. This love for food whetted my appetite to learn more.

I joined the Air Force and cooked, worked on missiles and B-1 jets, performed search and recovery duties and managed a dormitory. I also earned my bachelor's degree in psychology at Black Hills State University in South Dakota and worked at Sears and J.C. Penney selling men suits. I have always worked at least two jobs at-a-time and often attend college at the same time. I like to keep busy.

My wife Michele and I had a daughter, Heather, while stationed in New Mexico, which is where I developed a love for the Southwest, its culture and spicy food. After 11 years in the Air Force and being stationed at five different bases, it was time to settle down. With family in Missoula, we visited Coeur d'Alene many times and fell in love with her beauty, the people and the wildness (of the outdoors, not the people).

Coeur d'Alene was the start of my wife and my professional careers. I immediately got a job as caddie at The Coeur d'Alene Resort and as the Sous Chef at Cricket's Restaurant and Oyster Bar. Working 15 hours a day for three years became a struggle so I applied and was hired as the Food Service Director and Executive Chef at North Idaho College's food service department.

At NIC I created the food-court branding concepts, designed the food court, recreated the catering department, wrote all menus and recipes and managed 71 students and staff. I also attended the Culinary Institute of America, in St. Helena, Calif., while at NIC, which nurtured my foundation in the culinary arts. I love the CIA and visit as often as I can.

NIC is a wonderful place to work and I enjoyed my seven years in the food service department. While directing food service, I taught etiquette classes, food service supervisor classes and numerous cooking classes.

Working at NIC offered the opportunity to attend the University of Idaho and receive my master's degree in counseling and human services. The year I graduated, I opened Selkirk Counseling Group with four other counselors and was hired by the Coeur d'Alene School District as a counselor at Project CDA (Creating Dropout Alternatives). I also started teaching psychology classes for NIC. During this journey I received my Educational Leadership Certificate and am a certified school principal.

Presently I am the counselor at Fernan Elementary School, still teach developmental and introductory to psychology classes at NIC and own Rutherford Education Group where I lecture and do psychotherapy -and, I write this column.

Many ask, "Do you sleep?" The answer, "Yep!" I also make time for my family, friends and myself. Life is a balancing act. I believe a person can do just about anything as long as he or she keeps life in balance.

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Thank you to the loyal readers who stop me at the fair, the grocery store, the college, Art on the Green, at Moon Time, my school, on the street and around town to talk with me about my column and offer ideas and thoughts about life and living, and welcome to the new readers who are just finding this column. I look forward to talking with you soon.

Bill Rutherford is a psychotherapist, public speaker, elementary school counselor, adjunct college psychology instructor and executive chef, and owner of Rutherford Education Group; email him at bprutherford@hotmail.com.