The clouds over the sky in a gentle darkness releasing drops of water as though empathetically relating. As Matthew loads his car this morning, water droplets fall freely from the sky. The drops stop as we said goodbye, perhaps a signal to be strong and hold back the tears. Taking nature's queue, I am strong and knowing it was coming, I tried to prepare myself. It never seems to be enough, even though I know things will be fine as they always are...

So, I have come to what has become my comfort zone, the Corporate America of coffee... Starbuck's. As opposed to the various Starbuck's I have visited, I enjoy this one, I rationalize. Though I would rather contribute to local business, there is more of a community feel here, as ironic as it sounds.... there is more community at the corporate conglomerate than at the local small coffee house downtown. That place feels like a diner, without the greasy food. They each have their own place, I guess, and I spread the business evenly, or at least try to.