We were rooting through boxes of junk at a yard sale
some time ago. Amidst all the used clothing, broken toys
and plastic plants was a box full of old abalone shells.
Huge, thick, magnificent shells of a type simply not
found anymore. The sellers told us that their dad had
collected the shells from Catalina Island in the 1930's.
They had been using them for ashtrays since the 1950's.
John liked the texture of the shell so much he made a belt
and buckle for himself.
