Things you find at a library...

Books right?  That's what you expect to find at a library-- I know it's stating the obvious.  And when I went last week that is exactly what I found-- which was good for me (one who is a lover of the written word).  So I checked out a few and was on my merry way.  At this point I have to add that I love that libraries have self checkout.  It's so wonderful.  All those years of playing the grocery store clerk have paid off.  I can go up and scan my card-- hear the beep and reminisce on the good times I had checking out fake food across a plastic scanner.  Some genius has figured out how to do this with books now-- only books don't have a barcode.  All I have to do is slide my book across the counter.  I'm not exactly sure how it works but my book registers  and after a few taps on the screen I'm clear to go.  My childhood dream of being a cashier at a grocery store fulfilled without having to live out that actual back breaking reality.  Of course I always fear just a bit when I walk through those big security gates: "What if I did it wrong and missed a book?" and "Was I really qualified to check myself out?" but mostly "If this thing goes off in a library can you imagine how loud and distracting it's going to be?".  Of course I've never stolen a library book, so I don't know why I let my heart race and the sweat beads pile up as I step through the security gates.  And when I really stop and think about it-- what is going to happen if the alarm does go off?  Is one of the quiet little librarians going to come and freak out on me? Probably not.  But what is great about this whole situation is that even the little moment of fear cannot erase my prior bliss of self checkout.  What does put me in a little quandary is when I finally get outside to my car. 

When going to the library there are a few things that I might expect to hit when driving in the parking lot.  I have polled my friends and they agree that this list is a good representation of those items:

1. Kids

2. Old people 

3. A dropped book

4. Another car

But that's about all we have collectively come up with that makes sense.  So much to my surprise what did I come close to hitting as I backed up???

A CHICKEN!!!!

What is that?  Where do I live?  I am in California right?  So weird. It's not like I live in the sticks.  I know that Folsom isn't the biggest city ever, but we are part of Sacramento county-- which is California's capitol.  Doesn't that mean something?  Like I don't really have to worry about chickens crossing the road?  I took a picture of it with my camera phone because  I knew without the picture proof most people would think I was crazy. This experience actually happened a few months ago.  And now every time I go to the library I do watch out for my friend, the chicken.  I hadn't seen one for a while so I was beginning to think it was a fluke. Maybe someone was out walking their pet chicken and it got away? Do people with pet chickens walk them?  (It sounds like it might fit.)  But last week as I exited the library, still marveling at the self checkout system, there was the little bird... and this time he had a friend.