I'm continuing to use the same subject heading, but my initial thoughts about "My First Piece" were more along the lines of sex and guns. Is my Freudian slip showing?
Like Bernd, as a child I shivered Christmas night in freezing northern climes with my new present, a telescope. As far as space rocks went, they fell on August 13 if you were allowed to stay up late. Museums owned meteorites, not people. A few years ago I was looking at USA Today while sitting on a beach in Mexico and read a story about the first "Natural History Auction" being put on by Phillip's in NYC. According to the story, a piece of Mars, "the Zagami meteorite" was being offered. The manufacturers suggested retail value for 15 kg was "$2,200". A typo, but what did I know. One could own a real piece of planet Mars?! Get out-of-here! Rather than bid at the auction - the "winner" being the one who wants to pay the highest price - I decided to track down the owner and buy direct. "Hello, bro!" was the way Bob greeted me on the phone when I introduced myself and told him that I wanted to buy some Zagami "if he had any left." He did. "Do you know what price Zagami brought in a NY auction yesterday? $500 a gram! I'm rich". "You're a lucky man today" Bob went on. "I've got a beautiful 7 gm slice sitting right in front of me. Wow! Look at that shock vein! It's got an edge of shiny black crust......Killer, Man!!! You'll love it!" "Sounds good, Bob. How much?" "Well, I told you that it's your lucky day, man. You're the last person I'm selling any to for the low price of $200 a gram." I felt lucky, worried (who exactly was I sending $1,400 to?) and giddy. What do you exactly DO with a "slice" (?) of Mars? How big is 7 gms.? Not even waiting for it's arrival from Tucson, a few days later I bought another "4.1" grams of Zagami from Russ Kempton (I don't think Bob was into close measurements in those days, he just rounded down). I wanted to "get more before they ran out." My next purchase included (yes, at auction.....see what madness meteorites bring) 1.8gms of Nakhla (no dogs allowed). And through this serendipity, MARSROX was born. Happiest New Year, health, peace and prosperity to all, Kevin Kichinka Show your support at the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund - http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/my-pay-page/PKAXFNQH7EKCX/058-5084202-7156648 _______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
