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Date Posted: 10:43:58 03/19/02 Tue
Author: Ralph
Subject: Do you share your "passion" ?

We were in Quartzsite a few years back, and talking with some of the vendors there who had some relatively large nuggets on display, when this little fella about 4 years old walked by with his dad. You could tell he had an interest in the stuff well before he ever came to the show, and when he saw those few ouncer+ nuggets on that table, he literally started jumping up and down, not just from his excitement, but so he could get his head up above the table for a closer look. I thought he was gonna choke on his bubble gum when Gary handed him a big nugget and said "You wanna hold this?" I bet that kid never forgets that, and will forever be a convert to the ranks of gold nugget collectors.

And speaking of making converts, how many of you guys have a favorite "pocket piece" that you carry around with you to show to others? Just imagine how many converts we could turn onto nugget collecting just by showing a nugget around and stirring up conversation about nuggets and gold in general. You guys that set up at the GPAA and other gold shows around the country know exactly what I'm talking about here. All it takes is sparking a little interest, and some of those contacts could well turn into a raging passion for this hobby of ours, whether collecting, prospecting, or metal detecting.

But it doesn't necessarily have to be at a gold show. Everyone EXPECTS to see gold at a "gold show". But think about all the other possibilities that are presented around the country to set up and show your material. There are multitudes of GUN SHOWS where alot of interest could easily be generated. There are COIN SHOWS, and how many coin collectors or dealers have you ever met that WEREN'T interested in gold ??? (grin) And there are myriads of ANTIQUE SHOWS, FLEA MARKETS, COLLECTIBLES SHOWS, ROCK AND MINERAL SHOWS, and God forbid that I forget to mention the big hoopla in TUCSON every winter. The possibilities go on and on, and are hardly restricted to the organized gold shows. Spread your wings a little, and try things from a new perspective once in awhile. You might be surprised at the reaction of the "common man" who stumbles across your display in a very unexpected place. I remember running across a nice display by Dick and Donna Mercer of Grizzly Mining Co. a couple of years ago at one of the big Tulsa, Oklahoma gun shows. Needless to say, I spent more time looking at their gold than I did looking at guns. They had some beautiful pieces as usual. The first gold nuggets I ever owned were actually purchased in a local coin shop back in the late 1960s.

Just think back to your first look at a really beautiful gold nugget, one that really stands out in your memory. Was that the "turning point" that got you interested in collecting or prospecting? Most of us can remember that first exposure that sparked our interest in this great hobby, but if you're like me, very few of us would do things differently where our choice of hobbies is concerned. So show a child (or even an adult) one of your favorite nuggets sometime. Make a new friend, and spark a new interest. As for us "old timers", it's been a great ride so far, but there is still a long way to go..........

Cheers!

Ralph

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