Went to a steam rally. It changed my life. For a few years now I've been working on this steampunk thing, trying to get costume tips from cycling recreationists, but to see people actually doing it... I couldn't stop laughing. I laughed and laughed at how wonderful it was, the kind of laughter that bubbles up when a piece clicks into place in your head. Laughter is the appropriate response to any observation of the beauty that is existence.

Where did the world go wrong? Why did things change, speed up, get rude and cold and cynical? I decided long ago that what I would do with my life would be to create a fantasy world and then invite others to live in it. When something like this steam rally happens I don't feel like my life is taking a new direction as much as I feel like I'm just finding out where I was headed all along.

See more pictures of The 2004 Much Marcle Steam Rally