I have been going to a great number of mineral museums and institutions over the last year and one of my favourite things to do is to stand aside and listen to how people react to minerals and gemstones. I think we all know the usual comments about cubed pyrites, how they do such a good job carving them and sticking them on top of one another. There are others that I hear so often.
Any sort of sceptered mineral has women giggling and is so often the case with women over, let's say, fifty? Speaking of women, unless they are with their families, they travel in groups. I have seen groups roaming museums and shows of late, and I know that women like to have their friends with them as they go to destinations, usually in groups of three or four. Rather like Sex and the City's group of four women, all sharing thoughts and being supportive of each other. I always smile when I hear some woman quietly say to their friends "On my, look at that, you know what it reminds me of?" ...
I watched a couple who must have been in their early sixties as she asked about opals in a display case and he, after a brief pause, said "Those are from shells in the ocean". She nodded and I simply smiled at them...but he was so pleased she still considered him the authority, it was more about their romance than about anything else. Perhaps she knew he was wrong, but she took his arm and they strolled on.
One young fellow, with his pregnant wife, stood looking at the opal display and said to his wife "I think we should name our daughter Opal". She gave him a look that showed her complete distaste over such a name, and he looked back and said "And the next one will be Ruby, the next Emerald and......" Well, she poked him in the ribs and they both laughed and moved on.
I doubt that baby girl was going to be named Opal...

I love people. Life goes on....

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