June 28, 2010 – Humid, cloudy. Somebody asked me today why I bought Bedlam Farm in 2003. It had all sorts of problems, was in a remote and struggling town, and I knew nothing about farms or animals. Simple, I said. I was sort of crazy.

I was. A few years after buying the farm, I began to unravel, and had a world-class bout with mental illness, especially terror, confusion, loneliness and depression. I resolved to not end my life that way, and began to seek help and listen to it. My life has come full circle in many ways. I do not often feel the terror that marked several years of my life here. While I am by no means rich, or close to it, I have gotten the farm under control. In September, there will be four dogs, two donkeys, and two barn cats living on the farm, along with me and my new wife Maria.

I love writing memoirs, and will surely write some more, but my first love was always fiction, and I am so thrilled to be returning to it with “Rose In A Storm,” and my just finished short story collections. My first children’s book comes out in the winter. At the moment, I really want to focus on short stories. I think it might be my medium,and the farm surely lends itself to it.

Maria is steaming along as well, cranking out her potholders, shoulder bags, e-book bags, and cell cases. I am deeply committed to my photography, which I love more all of the time. The dogs are very settled. Lenore is a love machine, Izzy is a loving soulmate and companion, Frieda watches faithfully over the farm and Rose has been shuffling sheep around all summer. I look forward to the quiet and color of autumn.

I have come a long way, and been privileged to share some of the experience. I have a ways to go, but most of that I think is in managing my life well, being a good and loving husband and writing my stories. I am so glad I bought the farm, even if it was madness for a good while. Farms are inherently mad, I think, but evolving and miraculous as well. Sometimes it’s good to listen to the crazy side.