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Fetching the mail is not one of my favorite things to do. Lately, it seems that most of it is circular flyers and other kinds of junk. If it isn't junk, then it is a bill. Seldom do I receive honest to goodness real letters. However today, there was a surprise in my mailbox. It was addressed to me and was quite colorful.
Since June 2013, I had the pleasure of serving on the 2014 Schneider Family Book Award Jury. One of the books we selected was A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. If you haven't read it, you should. It is fantastic.
Inside the envelope, two cards were attached to a cellophane wrapped picture.
The envelopes contained handwritten notes from Jen and Melissa. Can I call them Jen and Melissa?
Under the notes was a specially wrapped print of one of the pages from the book, which was signed by Jen and Melissa.
I think I may have cried a little when I opened up the notes and read them. It was truly special and unexpected, and such a wonderful surprise to find when I arrived home. I would hug this if I wasn't worried about crushing the print. I guess sleeping with it is out unless I want to mangle it. Best thing will be taking it to be framed so I can display it.
Thank you Jen and Melissa for creating such a special book as A Splash of Red, for the wonderful gift, and for being so amazing. I can't wait to meet you in June, and I look forward to your next joint book, which comes out in the fall.
