I wrote a couple weeks ago about my daughter's peculiar affinity for acorns - and mostly about her doing the ridiculous things kids do that elicit head-shaking grins. One thing no one told me is that while toddlers are often silly and spastic, they can also be downright frightening. I don't mean that in a "eeek..she's so high up that ladder!" kind of way, I mean she can actually creep me out. My fears of the dark return to me. She'll wake me up in the night with her cries, and I'll hold a palpable terror in my arms. She'll tell me about spiders on the ceiling or of a wolf chasing her, and I'll console her as best I can. But some nights she'll really spook me - like last week when I entered her room around 6:30 to start the day. She was just standing there in the dark, silent with her back to me, facing the wall. Everything OK? I asked. A slow glance over her shoulder, then pointing at the wall and a whisper delivered with chilling clarity and calm: "I can still see the monster's shadow...". That afternoon I looked online for a night light, not for her but for me.

Halloween is a week or so away, though I doubt we'll see many trick-or-treaters out and about this year. While I've never been really into it, having a little one brings new interest in holidays. Ellery is now aware of this dress up day and has told me that she wants to be an astronaut, so planning is underway. My folks had their hands full creating costumes for all of us kids - painting little faces into werewolves and pirates and wrapping miniature mummies in Ace bandages. I more often played characters than dress-up. Eddie Munster one year. Thriller-era Michael Jackson another. Fonzie from Happy Days. One year I gave in and let some of the older siblings talk me into a costume called the Shaggy Dog. It was made entirely of newspaper, cut into strips like grass skirts and affixed with an absurd amount of scotch tape. It was a strange spectacle. A shiny brown nose and a concerted canine enthusiasm brought it all together. But that evening a certain shyness stopped me from selling it. We went out into the neighborhood for candy and the first door opened. Ooohh, a pirate! Oooh, a ghost! I stood there lackadaisically. An uncomfortable pause, a muffled discussion with another adult in the doorway, and then: "Well, look at you! ... Are you trash?"


Whatever next week, next month, or next year looks like, have no fear.. we are here for you. Whether your days are triumphant or trash, sunshine or shadows, we're here to hold you. No tricks, only treats. OAKLAND YARD is OPEN and for CURBSIDE PICK UP Tuesday through Sunday 12-6. Our ONLINE SHOP is up and offers free curation service as well as a new online bottle shop (with pictures!). Our phone lines are open as well - and though there may be a short wait, feel free to walk up to our door as well. Little shaggy (and not so shaggy) dogs are most welcome, always:)