[meteorite-list] The best part of this hobby!

From: John K. Gwilliam <jkg_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:31:11 2004
Message-ID: <6.0.3.0.2.20040404173346.027c3eb0_at_mail.theriver.com>

Dear Sappy Jack,
Like you, I too enjoy the people just as much as the meteorites
themselves. Some of my best friends in the world have come from the
meteorite community and I look forward to our time in the field together
like a kid looks forward to Christmas.

I met Mike Miller a few weeks ago when he and his hunting partner Ruben
were in the Phoenix area on business. Not only are these two guys
first-class people, but they're also dedicated and gifted meteorite hunters.

  Devin is lucky to have a dad and a friend like you. Actually, you're
both very blessed that you can share a common hobby that allows you to
spend time together.

Best,

John Gwilliam



At 04:58 PM 4/4/2004, Jack Schrader wrote:
>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
Received on Sun 04 Apr 2004 08:45:57 PM PDT