One of the most common messages was strangely absent from texts and threads, and rarely spoken, for nearly a year. I'm on my way. With its humblest intention, it magnified the anticipation of togetherness. Of paths and people joining. That someone wouldn't be alone much longer. That help was on the way. An extra set of hands. Maybe a pizza. Or a diaper bag. Or a shoulder to cry on. At its best it signaled that just another day might soon become a moment, a new future memory. A party was starting. Or a performance, a concert. Possibly a first date. Maybe, happily, some couple's last first date.

That phrase has been in my head this past week, as we are now hearing it once again, and with a most welcome frequency: I'm on my way... OAKLAND YARD is now open to the public for in-store shopping. We've been delighted to see so many old faces in here again (finally!) and to meet new neighbors too. It has been a particular joy to hear that common, suddenly beautiful, phrase when folks are grabbing bottles or checking out, with smiles behind their masks: I'm on my way to my friend's house, I'm on my way to Tomales Bay, I'm on my way to see my mom, on my way to a picnic, I'm on my way...

Many of you likely know by now that we chose the name OAKLAND YARD after the Oakland Shafter Yard that occupied this site in a slower, simpler past. There's an old photo of this location from the 1940's on our website, and Max wrote about the station a while back here. Though we've been more of a loading station for most of the past year, we're honored and thrilled to be a junction of sorts once again. A stop on your journeys. Gates are open and trains are rolling and things are slowly connecting again. Little joys are on their way.

Keep rolling,

Daniel