[meteorite-list] My First Meteorite Piece

From: Mike Groetz <mpg444_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:55:40 2004
Message-ID: <20020105155108.99078.qmail_at_web14708.mail.yahoo.com>

Everyone-
   I hope you don't mind another story this late. Have
been reading the postings this morning with coffee as
I have been out of town most of the week.
   The first specimens I received were from Dean
Bessey (one of his "My First Collection Sets"). He
really made me a nice set and I spent most all of a
Saturday afternoon with it when it came. My wifes
first response was "you paid what for a bunch of dumb
rocks?!!!" but at least she had a smile on her face.
   But Dean now had me hooked.....
   My first individual specimen was a small Saratov
from Walter Branch with a loose chondrule rolling
around beside it. To this day my favorite and I will
really miss Walter's site of smaller affordable
specimens. I will still watch for him on EBay as he is
a super person.
   My greatest "find" was away from home on business.
One night, totally bored in the hotel, I went to the
mall down the road just to spend some time. They had a
Natural Wonders store (one of the only "guy" stores in
the mall and it was sadly going out of business). It
was a clearance store as all of the other stores
shutting down were sending there material in to it. On
the shelf was a large etched slice of Gibeon- original
price $379. But- marked down to $114 on clearance.
Good deal- but much more than I should spend with both
kids in college. I stewed on it and finally asked the
guy at the register if he would discount it any more
as it was in the final 3 days of the store closing. He
got out the calculator and said "Would you take it for
$38?" I just looked at him in shock. A minute later it
was mine. I left the store with a big grin on my face
and went to a very expensive candy shop and asked the
lady if she would please weigh it for me. She looked
at me like I was nuts, and not knowing what it was,
weighed it at .76 lb!!!! I called my wife from the
motel that night and said don't worry about anything
for this Fathers Day weekend- listen to this!!! I
gently tapped it on the corner of the nightstand and
it "rang" into the phone. Her first reply was "another
dumb rock?".
   Since my starter set I now have 104 specimens
including most all of the major falls and finds. Most
are micros and macros but they are mine! And I have
met alot of good people- all in this list. I have
appreciated the time you have taken to work with me in
my questions and my "big buys..".
   Kids in college and meteorite collecting don't mix
well...but when they get out...

Take Care,
Mike Groetz


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Received on Sat 05 Jan 2002 10:51:08 AM PST