Dear Ross and Wes:
 
     I'm a new subscrber (today).  Being a land-locked, single mother of
2, and a full-time RN, I collect my shells any way I can.  Sometimes
garage sales, gift shops, mail-order.  Luckily a yearly trip to Cape
Hatteras allows me to comb the beaches and collect in what I consider
the "natural way".
     I have only just begun to study my collection, I'm not very book
smart about shells yet.  I was hoping this site would be able to teach
me  about my  treasures.  To me, shells are the perfect union of science
and art, and mine mean alot to me.
     As veterans of this site, I'm asking your advise.  Am I welcome
here too, or is  this a  place for shell snobs?  I don't want to get in
over my head, you know?
 
                                      Thanks for your time,
                                       Nancy