Hello Wanda,
Welcome to Conch-L. It is great to see so many lurkers coming out of the
wood-work. I think if more of the people contributed it would make for an
even more educational and fantastic forum to further our knowledge, develop
friendships and interact with a great bunch of people, flying pigs not
excluded. So, I look forward to seeing you again at COA.
Best regards,
 
Brian
 
 
>Howdy from Texas!
>My name is Wanda Coker and I have been on CONCH-L since January.  Before
>that I was reading over my husband's shoulder. I decided not to introduce
>myself and just be a looker.  But then I thought, if the kids can do it so
>can I and Mr. Shelton's question about family collecting is something I can
>respond to.
>
> I collected shells as a child some 28 years ago.  As I lost interest they
>were boxed up.  As I married and my parents made me take all my stuff, the
>shells where then stored in my own attic.  About 4 years ago I was visiting
>our local museum, The Brazosport Museum of Natural Science, with my
>children.  A hostess ask me who I was and a conversation started.  She
>explained to me that 25 years ago I had given some shells to her niece who
>in turn gave them to her son.  She is now the curator of malachology at the
>museum!  Anyway to a make long story a bit shorter,  she asked if I still
>had my collection.  The next thing I knew my then 7 year old daughter,
>Stephanie, and I were sorting through the shells and preparing to exhibit
>at our County Fair.  Stephanie now has 50+ ablaones.
>
>Two years later in May of 1996 the San Antonio Club was to host a Jamboree.
> I wanted to attend but knew my family would be bored.  So I made a deal
>with my husband, Steven.  I promised him a good weekend in a hotel with no
>children and that if he didn't want to go to the programs he could stay at
>the hotel and I would not get mad.  Well, he stayed through all the
>programs and when it came time for the auction he decided to bid.  He
>choose a Lavonia mamilla and this started his Volute collection.  He now
>has 100+ specie.
>
>I collect Ranellidae but also have a world wide collection.  We are all
>members of the Sea Shell Searchers of Brazoria County.
>
>We enjoy going to the beach collecting.  Just this past month we tried for
>the first time to keep live shells in a 10 gal. aquarium.  We are not
>having a lot of luck with this.  I would be grateful for any suggestions.
>I might also mention that I have a 14 year old who does not enjoy shells!
>Does anyone have a teenager that enjoys doing what the rest of the family
>does?
>
>We plan for this year to be our third year to attend COA.  We have meet a
>lot of people that we now consider friends.  I have enjoyed all the CONCH-L
>topics.  Thanks for letting me tell my story.
>
>Wanda
>
>
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