Once Upon A Time

I have a book in my library that I have read hundreds of times.  The binding is broken, and it barely holds itself together.  Most people would never guess what that book is, but my title probably gives it away.  It is indeed a book of fairy tales... The Worlds Greatest Fairy Tales.  I got the book when I was quite small, I believe as a gift from my paternal grandmother.  My mom probably knows for sure... But I have had it so long, I hardly remember.

I used to tell people that all good stories started with "Once Upon A Time..." - wrapped within those four words can be a beginning to anything!  Any adventure, any romance, any story at all , is possible when those four words are spoken.  Animals can speak, beanstalks can grow high to the sky and be climbed, and a princess can feel a pea through many mattresses (I always thought they needed better quality mattresses wherever this story took place!).  All in all, the world can be anything to anyone.

There are many times when I wish this were possible in real life, don't you?  That we could utter the magic of "Once Upon A Time..." And make whatever words or thoughts that we wanted to come to life.  That the impossible could become possible.  That the implausible could become reality.  That we could reinvent ourselves, and the worlds that we live in.  That animals could speak to us... (Or anything could talk for that matter)... But it only works this way in fairy tales.

It never hurts to dream though... To sit back for a moment and reflect.  How does your story change when you start it with "Once Upon A Time" ?