A Gem of a Rock Shop

With $5.00 in our pockets, the Gemstones and the Navigators went on a field trip to The.Best.Store.Ever.,

 a store called Jerry's Rock and Gem. 

Joan, the owner of the shop and a doctor of paleontology, shared her passion for all things rocks, minerals, gems, fossils and dinosaurs. Oh, and welding. She bought the shop twenty-five years ago to share her love of paleontology and geology with the general public and she obviously enjoyed having us come and visit. She still travels the world to buy rocks and to go on dinosaur digs. Plus she is an expert on Mount St. Helens. 

She told us all kinds of stories and encouraged us to pursue our passions, all of them.

The store was full of all kinds of interesting things 

including this triceratops from South Dakota,

dinosaur eggs,

and all kinds of remarkable things. 

With our $5.00, it was time to go on a treasure hunt!

There was so much to choose from and so much math to do!

Decision made. Beautiful choices!

The staff were so friendly. They put our purchases in labeled plastic baggies, they often threw in some extras, plus they gave us candy.

We each went home with a bag of treasures and an inspiration to pursue our dreams. Perhaps for some of us, we'll be some kind of scientist. For sure for most of us, we've become rock-hounds and want to go to Jerry's Rock and Gem again. It truly is a gem of a store!

Thank you, Joan and the staff at Jerry's Rock and Gem!

We'll be back!