One of the great joys of the work I do is the chance to stay with families. I wrote about people’s generosity last week. I am looking to give something back to one of these families. I’m hoping you will help.
In the spring, we spoke at the Catholic Church in Gullport, MS. We had a great time with wonderful people. The family we stayed with was exceptional. Every surface in the house was covered with rocks and shells of all shapes, sizes, and colors from all over the world. Before Brad and I left, we were given the chance to each choose a shell to take home. The shell I picked sits right next to my computer in my work space at home.
Their home was right on the beach. I can’t imagine how their house could still be standing. The pictures I have seen of Gulf Port are of rows of housing foundations with nothing left.
What I would like to do is help the family start their rock collection again. It may seem like a silly thing to want to send someone who has nothing some rocks and shells, but sometimes it is the small things like that which can help us along.
The task at this point is two fold. One, track them down and I am working on that. Two, gather rocks and shells. I have the shell I was given, a rock that was given to me by a grade school child in Massachusetts a number of years ago after a show, a rock from the crash site in Argentina from where survivors from the story which the movie “Alive” is based on started walking to safety, and a really cool rock from my yard.
If you have a rock or shell you would like to add to the collection, you can send them to me at: Gene Monterastelli POBox 50395 Washington, DC 20091. Please include as much information you can about what you sending (type, where it was found,).

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