To all and what a nice thread,

My love of the shell started with the influences from my grandfather. As a young boy I marveled at his collection and in time, with a dogged interest after awhile I soon began to refer to the specimens in the scientific terminology. The originals shells of my collection were either collected with him by my side or directly given to me from him. He's been gone from this plane of life since 1977 but his spirit is with me everyday. Some of you (if your old enough) may have had a contact with him. His name was Joe Pentz, he did volunteer work and went on several expeditions with the Museum of Natural History in Philadelphia working with Dr. Pillsbury and Abbott. He is one of the first names on the original charter of the Philadelphia Shell Club.

BRIAN J SCHWEIKERT Levittown Pa

-----Original Message----- From: Conchologists List [mailto:CONCH-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Vicky Wall Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 20:20 To: CONCH-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Memories in the Shells

Hello Ron and All,

You are so right about our hobby being filled with memories. I think for me, shelling trips bring back so many good memories. It's so much fun to be with other folks who love shells. My first real shelling trip was in 1988 with friends from the North Carolina Shell Club. Our trip was organized and led by the late Alta VanLandingham. I'll always remember our day at Airport Beach....I found my first of several carrier shells...what a treat. Alta dubbed me "Queen for the Day".

Vicky Wall, NC

Hi, everyone!

Tonight I was told that a former acquaintance in Newfoundland, Canada, had died of cancer. This caused me to think of some of the things we did together. He was a coastal fisherman, and I accompanied him several times. I would get the chance to examine the stomachs of the codfish for shells, and once I remember pulling up a holdfast containing two species of Musculus. He also fished for lobster, and I remember the many species he obtained for me from his lobster traps, including my first live Aporrhais occidentalis. On one occasion he took me dredging in his boat, and I remember the many chitons we obtained from gravel and small rocks covered with pink Lithothamnion. Now, when I visit the provincial museum, to which I donated my Newfoundland collection, I will think of him when I see those specimens.

In 1965, another acquaintance, a deep-sea dragger fisherman on the Grand Banks, gave me a large bag filled with shells he had obtained for me from the nets when the men were removing the fish. Among this bounty were my first live-taken Volutopsius norvegicus and Neptunea despecta tornata. Both were in perfect condition. That following winter, his ship was lost at sea with the entire crew. For many years, every time I was examining my Buccinidae, I would stop and look at those shells and remember him, and the summer he gave me that wonderful gift.

No doubt, many of our list members may have had similar experiences, when a particular shell or shells will make you remember someone associated with those specimens who has since passed away. If you wish to share some of those "memories in the shells", I'm sure that all of us would enjoy reading about those experiences.

All the best from Korea! Ron Noseworthy

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