Have you ever been so preoccupied that you walked out of a store without paying? I have. I did. Today! I was in my favorite children’s book store, The Blue Manatee, in Cincinnati laughing and talking with old and new friends. One of the employees is a teacher I used to work with, and who works there part time. Every time I visit on a Saturday we hug and catch up with each other’s news. And today was extra special because I got a chance to meet a children’s author. Louise Borden, is a native Cincinnatian who has written several books for children and young adults. She read from some of her books and talked to the kids and parents in attendance.
I picked up a picture book, Big Brothers Don’t Take Naps and her new non-fiction The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H. A. Rey. She graciously signed both copies and we talked for a long time. I was fascinated with her story as an author. I also learned that we have a lot in common, having been and lived in many of the same cities around the world.
We chatted for so long, that when I walked out of the store, autographed books in hand, I was in a happy fog and simply left without paying! I didn’t realize my mistake until I got home and started showing my husband my new purchases… uh, are they called purchases if you don’t purchase them? Yikes! I called the store right away, explained what had happened and gave them my credit card number over the phone. Whew! Yes, these are my new purchases!
