Laura Shares Her Vision
Laura, an activist at the Right 2 Dream Too camp, contributed her zine about practicing nonviolence. It's available to read at the Street Books library. Thanks, Laura.
Robert Chose Hound of the Far Side
Nothing like a collection of old Gary Larson cartoons to pass the time.
Western Cowboy Boots, Size Eight
Eric doesn't really need parts for his spaceship, but he does need a pair of boots for the winter. Being a true westerner, he is partial to cowboy boots.
InnerG: Street Artist
I met InnerG on the waterfront. He approached me and asked, "Are you the book lady?" I told him I was one of two book ladies who works with Street Books. We chatted for a while about what it means to make art and what it is like to make a living. We spoke about Banksy and Mr. Brainwash and how their stories have helped to mold InnerG's philosophy about art. It is a beautiful one: it isn't about selling artwork as much as it is about making real art.
Richard Makes a Donation
Richard made a donation to Street Books, two books he has already read. He is on the request list and waiting for the last two books in Anne Rice's, The Witching Hour Series: Lasher and Taltos.
Communitecture
Mark Lakeman approached the Street Books library and wanted to photograph me with a patron to share some of the amazing projects our fair city has to offer. He was on site at the R2DToo camp to post the vision for the camp at 4th and Burnside - a beautiful one at that:
Lakeman, as part of the Communitecture team, volunteered to create a very professional visioning of the future of the R2DToo camp.
Army of One
I met Granny today on shift. She rolled up to the cart in her pink Army Veteran ballcap and began looking for some science fiction. She found "The Disposessed" by Portland Author, Ursula K. Le Guin. It takes a strong woman to know one, which leads me to believe that Granny and Ursula will get along just fine.
Right to Read...
Jan is a new Street Books Patron. She found a book to take with her and said she would be back to see us next week. Until then, Jan!
Good To Go
David, a new Street Books patron, inspected the cart on Monday. He not only approved, but also was impressed with the library.
Surprise Encounter
I'm not sure which of us was more surprised, me, Terri, or her puppy as I turned the corner at the underpass and came upon a group of folks. None of them had heard of Street Books. "Is it free?" Terri asked me anxiously. It is! I opened the cart on the spot and Terri immediately snagged a Harry Potter book. It was magical.
I Heard About You
Melissa was on her way to Sisters of the Road to grab lunch with a friend. She was pedaling past as I was talking to "Pinky".
"Hey, I heard about you... you're that book lady, right?" she asked me. "I'm one of them," I replied. Melissa found two books she was excited about. She told me she liked to read at night when thoughts of her children creep into her mind. She also asked me if we barter. She said she would bring a stack of books that she has already read when she returns the books we loaned her today.
Reading Aloud on the Waterfront with Pinky
I was touring the waterfront, trolling for new patrons when I encountered Pinky. He was organizing his carts and had many of his possessions spread out on the ground when I pedaled up. We stood and chatted, he asked me to help him assemble a choker necklace (which I did). Pinky read to me from a book on meditaiton by Thich Naht Hanh, which he checked out before I left. He also read to me from his own journal, his daily inspirational thoughts and poems.
Mr. Ed Prefers Reality
I met Mr. Ed on Monday. He donated a newspaper to the cart "in case someone wants to do the crossword." He told me he liked to read real books. He referenced the bible, books on astrology, dictionaries, encyclopedias, as well as books on Catholicism and Native American studies. We are always on the hunt for books for our patrons. And though we didn't have his exact requests, Mr. Ed was touched that we remembered him and he found two real books to borrow.
Raelene Finds Her Inner Dragon
Raelene told me she already had a book, she didn't need a new one. But she lingered at the cart and we spoke at great length about both the 1993 film, "Hocus Pocus" in comparison to Kurt Vonnegut's book by the same name. She kept eyeing The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. It isn't funny, I told her, but the heroine is a bad ass. That sold it.
Flora Finds Purity
Flora was walking past the cart, when she stopped suddenly and said, "This is it!" Grasping the book, Pure by Julianna Baggott, she asked how much does it cost? A few minutes of your time, a signature and a photograph I told her. And even that is negotiable...
Bringing Dignity to R2DToo
Ptery, a resident of Dignity Village, came to the R2DToo camp this morning to share support for the nearly 60 campers who face a long road ahead. Dignity Village, began much like R2DToo as a tent city in 2000. Today, the Village is a vibrant community flush with gardens and individual homes -wooden structures, not tents - for more the than 60 people who live there.
It's a Small World
Chris, who came by to visit with friends at Right2DreamToo Camp, and Mike O'Callaghan, Right2DreamToo board secretary and treasurer greeted me as soon as I arrived at the gate to China Town this morning. I met Mike's niece, Casey at an open mic at the Cafe Mundo last week in Newport, Oregon - 137 miles away. Small world.
The Magic of Harry Potter
Marty found the magic of sorcery in the form of a Harry Potter book.
From One Librarian to Another
The day was beautiful and, after checking in at the Right 2 Dream Too camp and our new winter spot at the Naito Fountain, I took a ride along the waterfront on the Street Books tryke. I encountered Kerry, a former librarian from Azle, Texas. We exchanged stories and the secret librarian handshake before parting ways.