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I took my daughter Sarah to the Williamson County Gemboree in 2008, and it was somewhat of a "coming full circle" event for me.
When I was a kid my grandparents lived in Georgetown, and we visited them every other weekend. On one of our weekend visits Mom told me that she and my grandparents were going to a rock and gem show, and asked if I wanted to go also. At about age eight, I knew what a Rock Show was: a Rock and Roll concert! I wasn't sure what the "and gem" part was all about, but I figured I'd find out what that meant later. I just couldn't believe that Mom and my grandparents could be cool enough to want to go to a Rock concert! You bet I wanted to go!
When we got to the Community Center where the Gemboree was being held, I was somewhat puzzled that I didn't hear loud music emanating from the building. Once I got inside, I discovered the reason why there was no music. "Rock" meant a stone, a piece of good ol' Terra Firma. But these weren't ordinary rocks! These were treasures prized up out of the heart of the Earth! So that's what the "and gem" part meant! Needless to say, I was hooked!
It is said that in order to determine if you are a rockhound, you need to go buy a large bag of marbles. Every time you pick up a rock for your collection, leave a marble in its place. When you've lost all your marbles, you're a rockhound! Well, I lost all my marbles at my first visit to the Gem and Mineral Show! I've proudly worn the title of rockhound ever since.
Well, two years ago I took Sarah to the Gemboree. I don't know if it had the profound impact on her that my first Gem Show had on me, but I do know that she had a good time. "Daddy, look at this!" "Daddy, what is that?" "Oh, Daddy! Daddy! Look over here!" In her eyes I saw that same glimmer of wonder that I felt as a child. Neither of us won any of the hourly door prizes, but - wouldn't you know it - a few days later we received a phone call informing us that Sarah won the grand prize drawing! (We were not members of the Williamson County Gem and Mineral Society at the time.) So, sitting on the center of the fireplace mantle is a museum-quality specimen of fluorite, dolomite, and pyrite. But I like to think that Sarah will treasure the memories of that show even more than the door prize itself, just as I'll always treasure the memories of that "Rock Show" that wasn't "Rock and Roll!"
If you get a chance, go see the show next February. I promise you'll enjoy it!
Tim Morrison
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