Doug Shelton  wrote:
>       So since family involvement as a topic has just sort of "evolved",
I'd
> like to hear from others who are involved in the hobby as a family.
Share
> your family experiences.
 
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