Happily ever after

Once upon a times are generally one dad and one mom and two children, one boy and one girl. Very few people grow up to find out they are princes, or princesses and very few lead a storybook life.

Unless . . .

They live the real myth, the real fable, the real fairy tale, where witches aren't pushed into ovens and princesses are not awakened from a century of sleep by princes in the woods.

Because . . .

A princess is really an independent woman and a prince is an independent man. And witches are just the problem people that make us stronger along the way. We need everyone to create that fairy tale called real life.

In a story where knights in all sorts of shiny glorious garb work hard to make the world a better place and all men and women are majestic; whether they are growing food, or cleaning buildings, or teaching children, or making music, everyone has a job that is so important they should never give it up.

The real happily-ever-after needs a little bit of love, a little bit of joy, some pain, some tears, and a blister or two.

And you've got to remember what John Lennon said, "Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."