Every now and then I get the urge to blast off from the island and adventure out. So late Saturday morning I wound up the Jetta and headed up to Wiscasset to annoy my old pal Erika Soule at Rock Paper Scissors. She always freaks a little when she sees me coming through the door. Over the years I generally do not land lightly. She’s been in her shop for 20 years now in 2020, and generally has reason to fear my arrivals. We usually get hysterical in about five minutes, driving all customers from the store. Even her pup runs for cover.

I like to visit this time of year because it’s usually just after Erika has gone to the gift show in New York City. Ugh! The Javits Center! We have done trade shows there. It’s painful, but the neat thing for me is that I get to see all the new little ditties she has selected for sale in the store. I take special delight in rearranging her precisely stacked, spaced and hung merchandise. I think she is pretty fussy about alignment. I’m not.

I’ve been threatening Erika for years to stop by with a camera. She is sooooo not excited about that prospect. I resemble that. It’s partly why I chose to be behind the camera. So I completely understand and graciously defer. However, Erika told me that the way we should do the photo is for me to just show up, without notice, so she doesn’t need to fret. So I did.

I had this idea to photograph her amidst her card racks, peeking through with all sorts of get well, get over it, Happy this, regretting that, line ups of her inventory. She reluctantly gave in and before she could say boo I had made a dozen images and was done. She laughed splendidly through the process. I was pretty happy with the results and even offered her a quick glimpse of the product. Of course I turned down the illumination of the image viewer on the camera back so she couldn’t see very well.

So Erika, the next time I send you a note addressed to “Lady Rock,” Wiscasset, you will be startled by the image we have created and recall only fond memories of the fun we had. You done good. And, as always, you put up with me. Now straighten up those displays and carry on. Until next time.