Maria Mudd Ruth

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Cozy Spot for the Marbled Murrelet

Before.... 

After

I've passed by this charming neighborhood book exchange--the Little Free Library--for several weeks. I just loved looking at it from across the street on the sidewalk where I usually walk. But today, with a copy of Rare Bird in one coat pocket, my camera in the other pocket, I crossed the street and tucked a copy of my book in with the other paperbacks there for passersby to share and swap.

Spine-side out, Rare Bird did not make much of an impression in my photograph, so I plucked it out and turned it cover-side out. I was moving around to make sure I wasn't in the reflection in the glass and....busted...."are you dropping off a book?" a woman asked from behind me. 

 "I, uh, yes, well, umm. I live in the neighborhood and I thought it would be fun to add a copy of my book to the library here."  I was a bit embarrassed, but she was dropping off books, too (JRR Tolkein and CS Lewis, I believe) and we ended up talking about the marbled murrelet, the Little Library, the Good Shepherd Church group that built and installed the charming literary outpost, and the clouds.

Which were lovely, white, wind-swept cirrocumulus puffs. Which is really why I went for a walk this afternoon.

I left as she was adding her books to the collection. I hope she took Rare Bird home with her, loves it, and brings it back to the Little Free Library some day.