My older daughter is 2 1/2, and somehow became her own little person in the past few months. She surprises us with original artwork on the hardwood floors, and with live bees she trapped in the back patio and brings to the kitchen to examine. She has imaginary friend named Woody, who appeared the day after watching Toy Story. Often, she'll dismiss me when I offer my assistance for most things, but will accept help and encouragement from 'Woody'. She now actively welcomes the range of human emotion, isolating herself at times, saying she sometimes wishes to "just be sad for a minute". She indulges in something resembling pride - completing the most mundane tasks (finding a shoe, clamping down the lid of a sippy cup) with the same exultant cry: "I diiid great!" My wife filmed her attempting to put clothes on a coat hanger, a painful exercise in patience. After several minutes, and countless attempts, her strange high-pitched voice punctuates the completion, in a native accent I can only describe as creature: "I did GREAT!"

In these times, with the gravity of a global pandemic and the magnitude of this moment, the movement for racial justice - I struggle with the daily distractions. Max spoke well for all of us at OAKLAND YARD last week, and if you missed it you can read his words here. I confess that at times I'm finding it's a personal challenge for me to balance everything - to remain an active ally, a dedicated husband, a father of two tiny beings, a good business partner. But I'm learning there are transformative properties and a powerful alchemy at play when I can combine these elements. 

I'm listening this morning, for the not so imaginary voice encouraging my best. Despite past failures and shortcomings, and all the countless missteps along the way- the voice says to keep at it, to keep showing up. To be able say, with conviction, on the other side of all of this: I did great. 
 

OAKLAND YARD is OPEN today and will continue to donate proceeds from our new SUMMER SIX-PACKS to the Anti Police-Terror Project. This selection is a rotating assortment of some of our most popular bottles currently available (2 dry white wines, 1 dry rosé, 3 fresh reds) on sale now for $120. ORDER ONLINE for curbside pick up, TUE-SAT 12-5. 

With love,

Daniel