Collectors

What is it that makes people collect things? I can't think of anyone I know who doesn't. Sometimes people collect pricey, expensive items... other people the  things that are free.

I, for instance, collect flotsam; those items that the ocean brings ashore. My favorite local beach for combing is littered with rocks and stones, mostly igneous in nature, of all different sizes, shapes and colors. To me,  they are like gemstones, and I can't resist their allure.

There are also a variety of seashells, but few of them are whole having broken up when dashed against the stoney beach. But I love the broken ones that have been washed smooth. I'm particularly fascinated with broken whelk shells that allow you to see into their winding interiors.

For many reasons I have not been to my favorite beach in a long time, but today I could not resist walking it for it's still not been too long since Irene passed by. And, as I suspected, the beach was covered with treasures. My favorite find this morning, was a tiny little starfish. I have found starfish here before, but it's rare.

So, Emmett was chasing the birds and romping in the waves while I collected various keepsakes, when another beachcomber walked up to us. He was a man, probably in his late 50's, very bronzed, buffed and was wearing only a straw hat and Speedos. But what most caught my attention is what he was carrying by his side in his left hand.

"I see you found a whelk," I said. 

"A what?" he asked. 

"A whelk," I replied.

"You mean this?" And he held up the largest and most perfect specimen I have ever seen of a channeled whelk. By this time I was fairly drooling. I have a few knobbed whelks that I was lucky enough to find on the beach, but not a channeled whelk.

And he continued, "I thought it was a conch!"

(Aaargh! Face palm! God, please give me the patience to deal with the fact that you left such a gorgeous specimen on the beach only to be discovered by an idiot who doesn't know what it is... and please, please don't let him take it home and use it as an ash tray!)

I carefully explained that conchs are somewhat different than whelks and that although whelks are native to the area, it's very rare that one arrives on the beach intact. "Well then," he intoned, "I must be lucky!"

So, even though what I collect is free, I still experience the same frustration as a Beanie Baby collector when someone else has just snatched the last fluffy critter of a limited edition.

Happy collecting, whatever it may be!