Treasure Hunting

I have several books on crystals and other stones, but my two favorites, by far, are part of the Love is in the Earth series by Melody. The one pictured here, A Kaleidoscope of Crystals, could probably be considered the main book of the series. It’s a detailed reference book (over 700 pages long) that describes the metaphysical properties of minerals and covers way more than crystals despite its title. Its companion book, Mineralogical Pictorial: Treasures of the Earth, contains over 400 pages of color photographs of the different minerals of the world. Both books cover a wealth of material and are very comprehensive in their inclusions. One thing that I really love about the pictorial book is that it includes the Mohs hardness and chemical composition of each item featured in addition to having great photographs. I really recommend these books - not only are they comprehensive, but they’re extremely well laid-out and it’s very easy to find what you’re looking for in each one. Also, Melody’s writing style makes the main book and other ones in the series quite easy to read.

I also have a little personal story of my own about this book centering on a conversation I had yesterday. I picked up the main book of the series on my way out the door yesterday as I was heading out to the DMV. I never know how long I’ll end up spending at the DMV so I always try to take something that I’m really in the mood to read with me. This way, instead of complaining about the wait, I can consider the time a gift of sorts and spend it doing something I love.

So, anyway, I was nestled into my not-so-cozy chair at the DMV reading away when someone sat down beside me. After a few minutes, he spoke up and asked what I was reading. I answered, “A book on the metaphysical properties of crystals.” He gave me a funny look and said, “You don’t really believe that stuff, do you?” I just smiled a little and said, “Why not?”

Well! That seemed to really set him off. He went into this long vocal tirade about “hippies”, “flower children”, and scientologists. Then he proceeded to try to give some weird definition of science based on technology and computers, remarking that anyone who would read “crap” like that obviously knew nothing about REAL science. He then quickly added that he wasn’t trying to belittle me and that he only wanted to set me straight, saving me from people like Melody who had obviously poisoned my mind.

I sat there listening to him quietly. I was trying to decide if I should interrupt to let him know that I have several advanced degrees in “science” including a doctorate in mathematics. Moreover, some of the fundamental things that make someone a good “scientist” are being able to keep an open-mind, looking at things from fresh viewpoints, and not automatically dismissing possibilities because they don’t fit in with your existing theories and beliefs. There are times when I love debates like this, but at that time, I just wasn’t in the mood.

Luckily, I didn’t have to answer the rant. The computerized voice started announcing my number so I closed up my book, stood up and smiled again while saying, “That’s me. Have a good one.” But before I could walk away, he quickly stood up and said, “You know, if you have some time, we could go get some lunch after this.” That’s when the irony of the situation became a little too much, and I just couldn’t manage staying quiet any longer. So I simply said, “I’d love to, but I can’t. I’m already running late for my palm-reading appointment, and if I’m not home by dark, I’ll be putting these new license plates on a pumpkin.” Thankfully, it only took a few minutes to get the new plates and I was soon on my way back home.

I was doing laundry today and reached into the back of the dryer to clean out the lint from that little dryer-lint collection thingy.  As I was pulling it out to throw it away, I accidentally dropped it on the floor.  Before I had a chance to pick it up, my cat Pipper had grabbed it and taken off into the other room. 

When I found her, she had already put it down on the floor and was using it as a makeshift bed.  Pretty soon, my other cat Pete saw that Pipper had a new toy, and he rushed over to join her.  They were having such a blast with that mess of dryer lint that I almost didn’t want to take it away from them.  But then I had visions of it being torn up all over the house so I wrestled it away from the two scamps and threw them hair ties to play with.

As I was throwing away the lint, I was muttering to myself about what kind of creatures think that dryer lint, bottle caps, and hair ties are the best things in the world.  Then, I stopped.  I realized that this was the same type of reaction that I got from a lot of people when they found out about my obsession for collecting rocks and other “miscellaneous” things that I find out in the desert and mountains.  I never pay any attention to them because I know that going out and looking for these things makes me happy. 

So I promised myself that I was going to let my junkyard cats just do their thing as long as it wasn’t hurting anyone, especially themselves.  Sure, it might mean there’s some extra mess to clean up now and then, but knowing they’re having a little extra fun is worth it.  And after all, in the world of cats, maybe dryer lint is the equivalent of rocks.  Hmm, nah.  They love the rocks, too.

Oh, by the way, in these pictures, Pipper is the calico up above and Pete is the grumpy-looking gray tabby to the right.  They really do like to have their pictures taken, honest.