Zalo Finds the Good Book
He requested some titles in Spanish because he says his English is not so good. We had no problem communicating, though. I promised to add some books in Spanish to the cart and he selected a copy of the Bible to take until we meet again.
It's a Small World
Mark is a military veteran who moved to Portland four months ago. He came from Florida, but we both had a chuckle over our common link: Middletown, Ohio. Mark was raised in Middletown and I spent many days of my youth visiting my grandparents on the very street on which Mark's parents had rental property. He didn't take a book today, though I issued him a Street Books library card. And he made a donation. Thanks, Mark!
Eric Came Back for a Louis L'Amour
After a spell in the hospital, and a temporary stay in a shelter, Eric has moved back in at the Right2Dream Too rest area, and was glad to find a good Louis L'Amour to settle down with. 
She Wanted Something Scary
And chose to remain anonymous as she checked out a Stephen King classic.
Chuck Finds a Little Reading Material for Lunch
I [finally] made it to Sisters of the Road for part of my shift today. It was perfect timing, just before the lunch rush. Chuck was excited to find a Dan Brown title he could take with him. "When will you be back," he asked me. We run shifts on Monday and Wednesdays, so ... soon. Very soon. Until next time, Bon Appetit!
Milton Stopped Me on the Street
He is a writer and a craftsman who makes bookshelves. We spent a good fifteen minutes together at the cart and he asked many questions about our street library. He selected two titles that fit his fancy and said he would find us again to trade up in a couple of weeks. See you on the flip side, Milton.
We Have to Stop Meeting This Way
Which is to say, with loyal Street Books supporter, William, chasing me down on the street. Each time I have met William, he sees me from afar and flags me down. I was halfway down the block when I heard him from behind. Close call. William wanted to know right away if I had received the books he left for us st the R2DToo rest area before he left for Salem. We looked in the cart and both titles were there. He was relieved. "It is important to me that you know I am responsible and respectful with your books," he told me. We do know. Thanks, William!
Louis L'Amour Finds Love in Old Town
Big Mike scooped up a Louis L'Amour immediately and said, "This is the book I want." It was love at first sight.
Glasses for Brooklyn
Many of our patrons have mentioned that they need reading glasses in order to read the books on the cart. Brooklyn, a new patron, was perusing the cart and saw a small bag with reading glasses. "Are those for loan too," she asked me. I told her they were. She found a pair that worked for her and two books to read. Donations of reading glasses will be well used -- just ask Brooklyn.
Rebecca Sneaks a Peek at Street Books
She settled on a book by local author Jason Breedlove, who donatd a couple copies of his new book, Hole, to Street Books a month or so ago. She is wild about the Dune series and requested that we look for books in the series written by Brian Herbert (Frank Herbert's son) and co-author Kevin J. Anderson.
Patterson Flies Off the Cart
Before I had the chance to catalog some new titles we added to the cart this morning, I encountered some new patrons in a doorway in Old Town. Brett snagged this copy of a James Patterson book. Patterson's books are very popular among our patrons.
Eric Joins the March
After a long period of healing, Eric is out and about again. He has temporary housing, but he still takes time each day to visit his friends at the R2DToo camp. Today he marched with us through the streets of downtown.
Patrons on Parade
Wilson approached the cart at one of the stopping points along the parade route. He was interested in Native American books. I didn't have any to offer him today, but we settled on a copy of Howard Zinn's The People's History of the United States.
Damien & Sheri Found Some Good Reads
Damien went for Trask, the historical novel from the 1960s about Elbridge Trask, who settled in Oregon in 1848. (Turns out the Trask river in northwest Oregon was named after him -- who knew?). Sheri went with Counting Coup: A True Story of Basketball & Honor on the Little Big Horn. In it, author Larry Colton tells the story of Sharon LaForge, a young Native American woman who is from the Crow reservation in Montana. He follows her season as she plays basketball, and the trajectory of her life once she's off the court.
Melissa Found The Key to Midnight
She's a regular, but passed on having her photo taken because she'd just wakened up.
