I’ve been thinking about how to write this post for a long time. I couldn’t find the words to explain what I wanted to express, and that’s not always an easy thing for a writer to admit.

Then last week my daughter Katie and I were cooking Chicken Enchilada Casserole—which Katie sometimes hilariously calls Chicken Angela Casserole—while listening to music. I heard Pink singing “Glitter in the Air,” and suddenly I knew exactly how I wanted to do this post.

Lots of people have never heard of Pink. If you haven’t, she’s a singer, or maybe I should call her a performer. I can’t tell you her genre because Pink is difficult to classify.

Back in 2010, Pink performed at the Grammy Awards. Perform doesn’t quite capture what she did. Take a look at this video and see for yourself.

Go ahead. I’ll wait.

Incredible, isn’t it? I don’t know how she did that, let alone sing at the same time. Spinning. Upside-down.

Watch it again if you want. I might join you….

I’m sharing this video because it seemed like the best way to announce that I’m launching my own law firm. I never, ever thought I’d be “hanging out a shingle.” In fact, for years I was certain that I would never practice law again. And if I did, well, it would definitely be environmental law. I mean, the environment was the only reason I attended law school in the first place. I was sure of that.

Wasn’t I?

That was before autism entered my life and everything—and I mean everything—changed.

Now I’m doing all sorts of things I never thought I’d do. I’m cleaning gutters, online dating, learning to shoot video, and launching both a law firm and a nonprofit (more on this soon). It’s exciting, but it also feels like I’m in Pink’s video—hanging upside-down above you all, half naked and dripping wet, wondering if I can pull off this crazy stunt.

Except this isn’t a stunt. It’s my new career.

The Law Offices of Cynthia J. Patton & Associates, PC will be a comprehensive special needs advocacy center. Or as I like to say, a law firm with heart. My vision is to have a boutique firm that caters to the unique needs of exceptional children and their families and combines the best of a traditional legal practice with forward-thinking and flexible social entrepreneurship. I want to make the legal process as simple, painless, and affordable as I can.

The official launch will be in a few weeks. I’ve got a lot of details to take care of between now and then, including printing business cards and polishing my new website, but I wanted you to know what was happening in my life because this feels HUGE. Almost as big as adopting a baby.

My legal website should be up and running soon. I’ll post the link here when it’s ready. Drop over when you have a chance and check it out. Watch me twirl in the air. I promise not to get you wet.

Until next time,
Cynthia Patton