I equate Ann finding a new book to that of a child getting up on Christmas morning, running downstairs and putting the largest package in front of them… bursting at the seams with anticipation. But, unlike a child all geared up to feverishly rip open said gift, Ann takes her time, running her hand over the cover of the book, examining every flaw while listening closely as if another story was waiting to be heard.

I knew Ann was always fond of reading, but she really didn’t become an avid reader until just a few years ago. Maybe it was because we were out every night, all night long, in the beginning? Maybe it was because with four daughters there simply wasn’t enough time in the day? Maybe it’s all of it and then some?! All I can tell you is that now, you’ll find Ann picking up two or three new books a week…

In the summer of 2013, Ann pretty much wiped out the entire section on fiction in our local library. It was impressive to watch. If a title hits the best sellers list, you can count on Ann having acquired it and immediately having it consumed within three days. When a dry spell hits and nothing wets her whistle in either of the above reservoirs, Ann will head over to Half Price Books where she’ll spend roughly ten to fifteen minutes “feeling” her way through the aisles, gathering a stack of fresh unknowns.

Yes, our house is littered with books. Ann has books stacked on rows of books that are stacked on rows of books. She’ll come to me at least twice a year and describe her dream sunroom with a reading nook and bookshelves that seem to extend for miles. Outside of her dream of getting up at 4:00AM every morning to run her “farm,” reading comes in at second place, but only by a hair.

Ann’s love for the literary arts may seem pretty ordinary, but if you ever get a chance to watch her read, you’d see something quite remarkable. A parent naturally learns to be in two places at once. No matter what they’d find themselves doing, there is a heightened sense of awareness that floods every receptor.

In Ann’s case, I’ll watch as she immerses herself into the imagination of another while simultaneously watching a number of her favorite television shows. She never skips a beat and can recite every word that’s slung from the old vacuum tubes while still being able to recount every single feeling she found buried in between each page nestled in her lap.  Now, add in four children, myself and a random call from her family and you get a contender for Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Truly a sight to see.

So in honor of every page that’s ever been turned, I present this book. Every time I see a book now, I look forward to the journeys that await her. I can see a day where she’ll get lost in a sea of ten million words, happily awaiting to wash ashore to ten million more and most importantly, I see her, just as unconditionally as I did when I first laid eyes on her… almost eighteen years ago.

Medium: Watercolors
Size: 6 x 4 (inches)
Materials: 90lb Cold Press Paper
Frame: Mini Wooden Shadow Box with Glass (4 5/8"W x 6 5/8"T x 1.25"D)
Completed: Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Artist: Adam Kiger
Represented By: Park View Gallery
Artist's Website: www.adamkiger.com

Who is Ann and what is 31 flavors of love?!