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INDEX
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Our Adventures In Rockhounding
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It all started as just another hobby. Rockhounding! From a simple, old shoe box and a handful of pretty pebbles when I was 5 years old, the hobby has evolved into an obsession. I have had many hobbies and interests over the years, but rockhounding is the
one that I have stuck with all the way. I was even able to convert Barbara, my wife into being a rockhound. I had to drag her kicking and screaming at first, but then she got hooked. Now she loves to "play in the dirt" looking for specimens as much as I
do. She has even learned to make fine wire wrapped jewelry.
When we first got married, my mineral collection was large but displayed on one side of one room. It has now grown like a fungus to invade three rooms, and sometimes the kitchen. When I decided to turn my hobby into a business, the barn fell victim to the
ever growing stash of minerals. We can no longer park our van in the barn as it is bulging at the seams with specimens and lapidary equipment. It is truly amazing at how fast minerals accumulate. I am beginning to believe that "desert roses" actually mate
and reproduce. If I sell one or give one away, two more seem to appear from thin air.
We do lots of craft shows and festivals in the Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky area. I convinced Barbara I knew enough about the hobby to open our shop in 1994. The business is on track and we expect our best year yet. We started out doing flea markets with
mixed results. We do treasure some of the funny experiences we have had. We don't do flea markets any more because the Zekes and Cletuses, (you know, the guys in bib overalls with no teeth and grease stained hands) don't really appreciate the beauty of
mineral specimens.
The vast majority of people that we meet are nice, decent people. Even they can provide some entertaining moments at some of the shows. I think we have just about seen and heard it all when it comes to people being misinformed about crystals, gems, and
minerals. It is very hard to keep a straight face when someone tells me their quartz crystal talks or makes other kinds of noises.
Our experiences with people who visit our booth or shop range from the hilarious to the bizarre to the frightening. One memorable experience at a flea market a few years ago went like this. I assure you it is
true. We were set up like at any other show, and had a large display of quartz crystals. These three men
appearing to be in their twenties came up to the table with the quartz.
The "boss or leader" claimed that a crystal called to him from the other side of the flea market. He was tall, dressed all in black and had a mustache and goatee. He never touched any of the crystals, but ordered his body guards or assistants to pick up
several crystals one at a time, and rotate the crystal on his command. These guys were weird! They continued rotating the crystals for him for several minutes as he studied each one. If the crystals were talking to him apparently they didn't tell him what
he wanted to hear as he didn't buy anything. Barbara says that was Satan and a couple of his minions. I don't know about that, but it was a very odd encounter.
Recently, we had three ladies make an appointment for a visit to our shop which we run out of our home. This was funny! These ladies were in their 40's and 50's, well dressed, and seemed normal. They were friendly, polite, and loved minerals (all just
like me!). They looked over everything in the shop, had the usual questions., and then things began to turn whacky! The lady that appeared to be the eldest, (who incidentally also seemed like the boss of the other two) proceeded to tell us about the
Indian arrowheads, scrapers, and spear points. We received quite an education about what happened to the ancient Indians when they departed this world. The lady lectured us that when a chief died, his soul would go inhabit a large spear point. A
warrior's soul would move into a medium size arrowhead, and the women's souls would take up residence in the little birdpoints.
The few artifacts I had in the display case apparently contained a small tribe! I was told that we should take the arrowheads out in the woods, place them up on a tree limb, and have a ceremony to free the souls of the Indians contained within. All the
while Barbara and I are trying to appear fascinated and keep our straight faces. It gets worse! The boss lady then grabs Barb's arm to feel her "aura". Then she gives my wife a "reading". This self-proclaimed expert on minerals, Indian artifacts, and
Native American culture is also an oracle and channeler. She "immerses" herself in Barb's "aura" and proclaims that my wife was a witch in a past life, and that she was burned at the stake in Wales. I don't know about her activities in her past life, but
I know she can be a...... I digress. I tried to suppress a guffaw, but a snicker managed to escape. I don't think anyone noticed.
It gets worse! Now they all begin to tell us how that they can talk to the angels through quartz crystals. From what I gather, they all paid money to go to a class to learn how to talk into quartz crystals to commune with the angels. They told us that
because quartz is used in radios, there are angels all around us and they evidently have their own quartz crystals (on the "other side"), and they listen to people talking into their crystals from this earthly plane. We were told that quartz crystals
make noises, there are male and female crystals, they will grow if placed in the sun, and they can cure anything from gout to zits.
We certainly received a lot of information about quartz that we never knew. Why the right crystal can calm your nerves, alleviate all fears, and yes, even stop snoring. The ladies finally departed after buying a few specimens. We were invited to join
their group to tell our experiences about quartz crystals. We respectfully declined the invitation.
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Copyright, 1997 by Mike Shell
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I am 40ish, happily married to Barbara, have 3 children, Alison, Amanda, and Jeremy, and two dogs, Rocky & Elsie. I have a large, ever-changing selection of mineral specimens from around the world with an emphasis on gem minerals. I am constantly
upgrading my inventory to appeal to today's more informed Rockhounds. I have minerals from thumbnail to cabinet size and prices run from $5 to $500. I am continuing to develop contacts and sources for fine specimens. We also feature Barbara's wire wrapped
jewelry. She uses sterling and 14KT gold filled wire, but will use gold when requested. Barb is modest but she just had a very successful show!
We are easily reached by e-mail, minmor@choice.net, and fax (513-734-0050). Our snail mail address is:
Minerals and More,
P.O. Box 371
Bethel, Ohio 45106.
Our website is still in the planning stages.
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