It amazes me when I venture slightly outside my usual walking range and stumble upon a Little Free Library. Yes, I could check the website to see if new libraries have been added (and I have before with varying degrees of success/map accuracy), but part of the fun for me is the surprise. My local park has three, so I don't usually go on an LFL hunt unless I'm on my bike. Four others are reachable within a twenty mile loop. In this case, this LFL was about 3/4 mile from the park where the others stand.
The other funny part about this journey was I had my face firmly planted in my phone...chasing this:
Pokemon Go still motivates me to walk/jog farther than I would without it. Franchises like Pokemon, Neopets, Care Bears, and She-Ra helped solidify my love of creatures and companion animals. I could relate to having my own animalistic companion since I grew up with my own nanny dog who followed me whenever I explored the creeks and woods. Something about that bond spoke to me as a child and still does as an adult.
The creature companion is still a popular mechanic in media for a reason. It could stem from a hope for unconditional love or a longing for a brighter world than the one we live in. As for me, I doubt I could write a book without at least adding animals in the background. Pets have been a large part of my life since I can remember, and I credit my mom for putting up with the rat and tarantulas, hah. She's a trooper. She did, however, draw the line at snakes.
Though I'm petless now due to frequent travel, I still have my digital creatures and novel characters.
I used to be reserved about admitting I still enjoy playing Pokemon and other Nintendo games. Once I left my twenties, I realized how silly it was to care if people judge me on my interests. Honestly, it takes too much work to worry what others think anymore. Let me say this: it's okay to enjoy things that cause no harm. Others won't always understand or relate, and that's okay. If I had adopted this attitude back in grade/high school, life would have been much easier. At least I got it now.
Less judging, more understanding. I'm always working on it.
And, my love of Pokemon often leads me to undiscovered Little Free Libraries. This wasn't the first time I've stumbled upon a book-filled box while hunting imaginary creatures and getting exercise. Many LFL's are often checkpoints called "Poke Stops" in Pokemon Go that give out items. These checkpoints are visible from a mile or so away, and have names and pictures for the landmarks. It's an extra bit of fun to hunt while on vacation in unfamiliar cities.
The creative in me will always enjoy creatures and the hunt for fun surprises. I'll keep honing this interest into stories until I either tire of it (unlikely) or get published. Sharing this love with others who also enjoy unique critters is one of the reasons I do what I do.
Keep on smilin'!
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