From the Writer: An Explanation

A conglomeration of thoughts on words, feelings, magic, life, and trying to find out how they all fit together.

When you're born to tell stories, at a point, it just doesn't seem to be enough to tell only the story. You need to tell the story of the story, and the story of the story of the story, and so on and so forth. When you're born with words in your soul, and you're bursting at the seams with ideas that you can't put names or even feelings to, it becomes everything to document the processes that bring you to your new worlds. It becomes everything when you find the right word, when you put the right building block on the previous one, and when you finish something you thought you might not. Finding an ending is tricky business. Finding a beginning even trickier. The simple words can't always describe everything, and neither can the complicated ones. Sometimes the overused, tired words start to awaken again, and sometimes they should be allowed to fall asleep--but never to become obsolete, because the day will return when they feel right again.

Words hold feelings, and feelings hold words. I don't find it possible to document every small notion and emotion, but in my lifetime I will surely try. And from this springs Herb and Opal, a wonderful new world that sheds light on the familiar one, and brings joy and possibility to tasks that have been done a million and one times.

I believe life is all about finding everyday magic. And if you can't find it, you have to make it. The magic can be dark and spooky and dreary, or bright and vibrant and joyous. A mix can come of these feelings, as is life. Some days are vibrantly dark, or darkly vibrant, and those mean different things. Some are both dreary and joyous, which spring from deep contentedness and subtle relaxation. Some days (my favorite ones) are spooky and joyous, which typically occur for Halloween lovers or horror movie fanatics--both of which I happen to be. And the words we mix to describe these emotional mixtures brings life to our days, as we forever strive to know and communicate with ourselves and others around us.

Herb and Opal also emerges from the knowledge beginning to grow in my mind as a twenty-two year old (who still feels like a teenager) that there is more to life than what happens with the physical body. This we know, this we have heard, but have we really taken this to heart? So many intricate experiences happen within a day, within an hour, even within a minute. How many thoughts go through your head in one minute? Have you ever tried to count? How much of your life has happened in a way you didn't imagine it would? The realization that every minute lived is another unique experience had, growing in my heart like a large tree from a small mustard seed, inspires the magic of Herb and Opal. The ecosystem of Willow Farm mirrors the one in my heart--one I hope you will find within a deep resonation and joy.