[meteorite-list] What Started It All...?

[Michael L Blood]

Hi Eric and all,
        Great post, Eric. I think about every 6 months the list should have
A "why I like meteorites" posting flood.
        It always reminds me there are SO MANY different reasons to love
Meteorites - from the wonder and awe they inspire, to the fixation of
Collecting rare (and  "valuable") things so commonly found among
Homo sapiens - as though we have a "collector gene."
        My reasons evolve or change over time in their dominance of my
Obsession. It is no secret I have been fixated on hammers for several
Years. I ACHE for those that are known to exist, yet have yet to appear
In my collection. Hammers are, to me, the ultimate "witnessed fall"
And even non-collectors obviously find them fascinating when told
Which ones fell when and struck what. "REALLY?!" they say, when
You show them Peekskill, Sylacauga, Park forest (I have 9 or 10
DIFFERENT Hammers just from that one fall - the tow truck, the
Baseball bleachers, the fire house, the Barns House, the Garza house,
The plymouth, the welcome mat, etc..... "Oh, and this one killed a cow,
And that one....". 
        They fascinate even the non-collectors - and I have never had a
collector over that didn't drool over my collection of hammers - and, as I
said, there are always dozens one can look foreword to getting, as it is
pretty
Much impossible to get them all. For instance, I doubt anyone will
Ever get the tiniest micro Bessey Speck of the Nogata, the Daoist
Shrine/monastery fall in Japan in 861 AD. I have seen a video of one of
The monks showing it to a visitor and seen it in the video - smaller than
A baseball  -  money means nothing to them, so, it is literally priceless.
To me, part of the allure is never being able to get every single one - and
Even if you did - more fall every year.
        Of course, I could go on for hours - as could nearly any collector
About any particular (or several) aspect (s) of meteorites that enthralls
Him/her. 
        Ain't life grand!?
        Best wishes, Michael

on 4/10/08 8:40 AM, Eric Wichman at eric at meteoritewatch.com wrote:


> This is a two fold Statement/Question. It could mean "What started it

> all! referring to my meteorite collection and adventures, or it could

> mean something way more profound than my insignificant little

> explanation... I'll leave it for you to decide.

> 

> Some people have asked me what got me into meteorites. I've combined

> some old posts from my old list, and my original post with some updated

> info. Here it is...

> 

> What do I love about meteorites? Short quick and dirty answer, EVERYTHING!

> 

> The long answer... I love meteorites because of what they are, what they

> mean, and where they come from. I love meteorites because they are part

> of something way bigger than I am but I can hold them in the palm of my

> hand. I love meteorites because they make me wonder more about the

> origins of EVERYTHING!

> 

> <b>My Meteorite Obsession:</b> It all started way back in August of 2007

> when my girlfriend bought me my first meteorite. From there I started my

> first meteorite site MeteoriteWatch.com to showcase my meteorite and new

> found hobby. UPDATE: Since then, the site has evolved into something

> much more than a personal site about meteorites. My newfound hobby

> turned into and addiction and the addiction turned into a full blown

> obsession!

> 

> I found myself asking the same old questions with new insight. How long

> did it take our planet to form? Where did all the material come from?

> What makes a planet form in the first place? Is our planet actually

> growing? What's at the core of our planet? How long does the Earth have

> left in it's planetary life cycle?

> 

> This is why I love meteorites, because they can answer all these

> questions and more. They may even be able to tell us how life got here

> and ultimately where we come from! The possibility is there.

> 

> That is amazing!

> 

> I think that is why most people become researchers, scientists,

> physicists, cosmologists, and all the other related fields have one

> thing in common. They look for answers to the bigger question. Where are

> we from, and why are we here?

> 

> Too deep? Maybe, but hey you asked for it... ;)

> 

> Here are a few excerpts from an article I wrote for my meteorite dealer

> site.

> 

> <b>The Popularity Of Meteorites:</b> Meteorites are ever increasing in

> popularity. Over the last few years more and more people are realizing

> the potential of meteorites. Intrinsically speaking meteorites are one

> of the very few things on this planet that ALL people can relate to. I

> don't know anyone that isn't fascinated by a meteorite once they hold

> one in their hand. There's something about meteorites that just make you

> "want" to hold it, and it give you some sense of knowledge.

> 

> Read my article simply titled "11 Reasons Everyone Should Own A

> Meteorite." http://www.meteoritewatch.com/mw/node/20

> 

> <b>Meteorites As Art:</b> Many people view meteorites with an artistic

> eye. Meteorites are beautiful pieces of art from space and some sell for

> massive amounts of money. As meteorites grow in popularity so will this

> area of the industry. Bonhams' New York natural history auctions off

> some meteorites for as much as $105,000.00. This is a huge amount of

> money for a rock from space.

> 

> <b>The Demand For Meteorites Is High:</b> As the popularity of

> meteorites grows, so too does the price. The are only so many meteorites

> on the planet, as more and more people buy meteorites, the supply will

> dwindle, demand will grow and the price for your average iron, or

> pallasite, will rise substantially. These treasured rocks from space are

> highly sought after by collectors and dealers alike and the price is

> only going to rise as more and more people buy them up. Take a look at

> the latest fall in Carancas, Peru. This chondrite is extremely valuable.

> Meteorite hunters and dealers traveled from all over the world to pick

> up pieces of this meteorite before it was all grabbed up. Now these

> specimens go for as much as $100 per gram or more. There are very few

> pieces of this meteorite available on the market right now.

> 

> On a lighter note I like meteorites because they are a way for me to do

> what I like to do, travel, search, find, treasure hunt, adventure, and

> learning. I sell meteorites so I can collect, to finance my adventure,

> travels and equipment. Adventure unfortunately costs money, and

> meteorites afford me that fun!

> 

> Hope this answers all your questions... ;)

> 

> So, I answered! What do meteorites mean to you?

> 

> Post Your Answers Here: http://www.meteoritewatch.com/mw/node/21

> 

> Regards,

> Eric

> MW

> 

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'Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the
attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way
your mind looks at what happens.'  --Kahlil Gibran