Well, that reminds me of my first real shelling trip in 1962 when I was 9
years old. My mom, dad, and brother and I went to Long Boat Key with side
trips to Sanibel.

Running down to the beach on Long Boat for the first time, I immediately
found a large Oliva sayana with the blue overtone still on it. My one and
only Lion's Paw is a battered, broken single valve from that trip. My
family was charmed to hear the motel-owner yelling at her child: "You'd
better mind, honeychil', or you'll get a lickin'!"

David
Durham, NC

>
>Hello Barbara and list,
>This reminds me of how I became enchanted with the mystery and marvel of
>seashells - when I was nine years old I read the novel "The Lion's Paw" by
>Robb White. I was immediately hooked, and one summer we packed up the old
>Chevy and headed across the Everglades on old US41 to the elusive Sanibel
>Island. This was pre-condo days, and we stayed near the Lighthouse at a great
>little mom-and-pop motel called "Fuchs"(I remember because I was embarassed
>by the name!) I didn't find a Lion's Paw then, but I did find my first "real"
>shells.  We also stopped along the way and I bought a few more.  That was
>back in 1963, and I still have those shells with me today.
>My favorite shells?  The ones I found back then, and the "miracle" Lion's Paw
>that found me this past winter.
>JoJo