Dark Side: Knocked Off the Unicorn


Summer is waning.

I can smell it in the crisp morning air, when I let my pups out. I can hear it in the afternoons, when the dog day cicadas drone on and on, signaling the end of the season. Mostly, though, I can feel it in the evenings, when the heat gives way to a smoky chill. There are more obvious signs, of course, like golden school buses on the streets and pumpkin spice lattes in the coffee shops. But I prefer the subtle changes of Mother Nature over society's calendar. The Earth is very good about letting us know what lies ahead.

Am I excited for autumn? Yes, and in more ways than one. I'm anticipating all the usual things...cooler weather, hoodies, carving pumpkins. Love that stuff! A bigger change is on the horizon, though, and that's got me more excited than anything: my special-needs son will be moving into a group home in less than two weeks.

This is huge, guys. Many of you know that I've been looking for a good place for my boy, and now, we have one. He'll be living in a beautiful, spacious house with other boys his age and a great staff of people who will help him become as happy and independent as he can be.


New Series Intro: The Dark Side

Morning, guys! The Cafe opened a little early today, mostly because I couldn't sleep. Too much on my mind. The past few weeks have been super tough. There's light at the end of the tunnel, though, and I'm heading for it. Sprinting, actually, because I've been waiting so long. I have a feeling that stepping into it will feel like King Theoden waking from Saruman's spell. I'll look up, see Gandalf's wise and grizzled face, and hear his raspy voice:

"Breathe the free air again, my friend."
And my gypsy soul will unfurl its wings and flutter away, seeking new adventures. :)

Before I unfurl anything, though, I'd like to introduce our new series. It's not exactly unicorns and rainbows. In fact, I'm calling it...The Dark Side...and I hear that just the way Darth Vader would say it. Deep, breathy, ominous. LOL. Anyway, I've often compared INFJs to Yoda, but we can be equally Darth-like if we don't achieve wisdom and functional balance. There are a few troublesome spots that could tempt us into walking a darker, more negative path.