Yorick purchase issues resolved

Well, it looks like the online purchasing issues have been resolved. You should now be able to purchase Yorick without issue. If you discover otherwise, of course, let me know, and I'll try to make it right.

In other news, we've made our first sale! CC does the happy dance! I am now officially part of the haunt industry, and a better, more creative, and more crowd-pleasing bunch one couldn't hope to be a part of. It feels really good to know that something we've put out there is not only of value, but that the people buying it are doing it to provide enjoyment for many other people.

And it's self-perpetuating happiness, too, since I plan on putting every cent we earn from Yorick back into our home haunt. Yorick sales will make our haunt better and take a bit of the sting out of the rising cost of running a free haunt that caters to almost 1,000 visitors. The candy budget alone was getting painful, but what are you going to do? Turn kids away?

Home haunting really is one of the best things I've ever done. Once a year, we bring a lot of magic and happiness to a lot of kids (and adults!), and it's so fulfilling that it sustains me the other 364 days of the year. Many of the kids in my area have never seen, and will never see, magical haunted attractions like The Haunted Mansion while they are in their wonder years. Or have magical experiences of any kind, for that matter. We live in one of the poorest states in the nation, and there aren't a lot of age-appropriate entertainment experiences available. And the ones that are available are beyond the means of some families. By keeping our haunt free and accessible to all, we reach kids with a sense of wonder that would normally not experience it. One visiting kid said, "This is the best time I've had in my entire life!" Whether that's hyperbole or not, that statement makes me sad and proud at the same time - sad that our amateur, low-budget yard haunt registers as the best time that kid has ever had, but also proud that we were really making a difference in this kid's life with foam skulls, plastic rats, and black lights.

I view starting sales of Yorick as another milestone in that process of bringing magic to the kids of the world, because it extends our capabilities to deliver beyond what we can stretch out of our own personal budget. Is $15 a lot of money? No. But it will help. And it's a statement that bringing a little spooky magic to others is worth something to people. In the end, that's what the haunt industry is all about.

And now I'm a part of it. Yay!