I <SPOOK> NJ: Shout out to the Demon Dog who reminds me to keep my head up!

When weather, work, and parental responsibilities allow it, I like to start my morning commute with a 20-minute stroll to the train station slightly further from my house than the one that’s only a few blocks away.

I get a sitcom-length amount of time (minus commercials) to myself screen-free where I can breathe in the fresh air, scope out the neighborhood chickens, and look for more wild birds.

Of course, sometimes I try to have my walk and work it too and I’ll answer emails or write down ideas in my phone when I should be paying attention to where I’m going. Thankfully, every October I get an important reminder to put my phone down, keep my head up and pay attention to my journey.

Just one small corner of the best Halloween display on my morning commute.

One of my neighbors does elaborate decorations for pretty much every holiday, and his Halloween display is by far the best. There’s a talking Beetlejuice, Frankenstein, numerous clowns, and even more skeletons, but every year I forgot there’s also an animatronic demon dog named Bubba who pops out at of his unassuming dog house right at ankle height.

Margo hasn’t made it in person to this haunted yard yet this year, but she enjoyed walking by two years ago.

Even after Bubba terrorizes me the first time each fall, it normally takes me getting the crap scared out of me 3 or 4 more times before I finally remember he’s there. To be clear, I’m not complaining… once my heart rate settles down, I do enjoy my week of free jolts of energy… and if they’re up at 6:15am, the owners of the display hopefully get some enjoyment from seeing a 6’5” 38-year-old man jump (what feels like) 10 feet in the air before he’s had his morning coffee.

Bubba the Animatronic Demon Dog at 6:15 one morning.

One day last week, Margo was having a rough morning as I left the house, so I decided to record a video of the Halloween display for her.

My tour of the Halloween decorations for Margo.

And of course, mid-filming to avoid freaking her out too much, I had to keep my cool when Bubba the demon dog lunged at me unexpectedly. Still I was a little worried seeing all those gremlins and ghouls in the dark of suburbia before sunrise would freak her out when she watched it… but it turns out the only terrifying part of the video was that Margo thought it was her Grandpa Toes’ voice on it instead of mine… I know I have a touch of grey in my hair, but to be mistaken for my father by my own daughter is more bone-chilling than Bubba!

I’m fairly sure I’m going to remember the demon dog is there on my walk today, and after I look down to say good morning to old Bubba, I’ll make sure to keep my head held high for the rest of the day.

My Song of The Day: “Touch of Grey” by the Grateful Dead