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.

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: