----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, April 04, 2004 6:58
PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] The best part
of this hobby!
Hello list members! I am a meteorite
hobbyist, not a professional in any way, shape or form. Just someone who
has grown to truly love this hobby. I first got interested in meteorites
via my son's interest in astronomy and space in general. I, not knowing
at the time that you could EVEN OWN a meteorite, found a Dalgety
Downs on Mike Farmer's ebay listings. This was in the early days way
before Gold Basin and Morocco ever happened on the scene. Well, I bid on
the meteorite for my son, won it, and the rest you can guess. It
has been a truly wonderful experience and a new lease on life for me ever
since. I have been able to spend many wonderful weekends out in the
desert with my son doing something together that we both found that we love so
very much, hunting for these very special rocks and getting so
excited TOGETHER when we would find one. The times
that I got to spend with my son are truly priceless and I would not trade
those times for anything. I have even been so very fortunate as to
be able to go to Oman and hunt meteorites WITH my son! A truly
incredible experience! My son's name is Devin by the way, a more
wonderful and special son, I could not imagine. Many of you may know him
personally or have seen his posts to the list. I am twice blessed to
have two very special sons! Even though the meteorites themselves
are a world of fun to find and collect and own, I just wanted to say that I
have found over the years it has been the people that I have met that have
been the real treasures in this crazy hobby. I treasure the friendships
I have made, and would not trade a single one of them for all of the
meteorites you could possibly own in a lifetime! I am absolutely sincere
when I say this. I just met Mike Miller of Kingman. A true
gentleman and a man of impeccable integrity was my very first impression
when we met. I am certain that any of you who know Mike personally would
agree. Mike drove seven hours from Kingman to trade some meteorites with
me. And then he turned around and drove another seven hours just to get
back home. The meteorites are very nice, but I found that I very much
enjoyed getting to talk with this man for the short time we had together and
realized once again, that this is what it is really about for me. The
people, not the things. I look at meteorites as things, a common matrix
that we all share which serves to bind us, the chondrules together. For
me, it's the people I love, not the things. At the VERY REAL
RISK of being labeled SAPPY, Jack
Schrader
