Ruthie in the Sky with Diamonds! Our paths crossed in the virtual world a few years ago. I was searching keywords for Grants Pass Oregon when I stumbled upon a most interesting blog. After reading a few lines, I knew I had to do something.
Ruthie is a 55 yr old professional hitchhiker. She's traveled around North America for over 18 years hitching rides from strangers. She's an educated soul and she writes with heartfelt imagination, drawing you into her world of fascinating faces and places. I was touched by her honest mutterings.
Ruthie's travels led her through Grants Pass, but not without incident. She was turned away by a local women's shelter because she didn't meet the 'criteria' for a warm meal and bed. When I read this, my heart sunk. How could anyone turn away another human being in the freezing cold? It was still winter in Southern Oregon and night-time temps were in the 40's. The thought of Ruthie sleeping under a bridge for shelter sickened me. I wrote to her and asked if I could help. She called with delight, and on that day two strangers became friends.
Sometimes, people come into our lives for a reason. Ruthie doesn't know this, but it was her writing style that intrigued me and helped me discover my own. I'm drawn to raw and real utterances. After reading Ruthie's blog, I found my voice, and in some ways, I emulated her style in my own blog, thus the pen name... The Naked Blogger. I'm grateful for having had the opportunity to make a small contribution to Ruthie's life. I wonder if she knows that she's made a significant difference in mine?!
-Ruthie Rader
The 'Spring Bear' drawing is a Ruthie creation. You can check out her blog at Ruthie in the Sky with Diamonds!
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