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| Thanks to all of you who participated in the Ohio Buckeye's "Hooked on Gold" essay contest. All your stories were thoroughly enjoyed by our readers. The winner of this essay contest is Jason Thayer from New York. Contrats Jason! Hooked on Gold, by Jason Thayer The story of how I got hooked on gold is a little sensitive for me, so not too many know. I had already found my first speck of gold in a land where it didn't exist. A buddy and I were walking a NY stream, he was prospecting, I was metal detecting. After no luck with the detector, I pulled my new gold pan from my pack, which I had bought from my first Gold Show in PA. Not even knowing how to pan, I was classifying thru a spaghetti strainer, and actually fanning the material, instead of panning. Looking back, it is kind of funny. Needless to say, after about 5 pans worth of material, I had spotted my first piece of gold !! It was a decent little flake, something I never thought I would actually find. Not having a vial, or anything to put it in, I took a dollar from my pocket, put the flake on it, and folded it up for safe keeping. We went about our business for a few more hours with no luck, but had a great time, and actually found gold. During this time, I had an Aunt (Linda) who was very ill with lung/brain cancer. It was a tuff time for the whole family. One day, about a week after my "Big" find, I was having trouble dealing with my Aunt's situation. I had been brought up knowing the Lord, and hearing how he loves us all, But my faith was week, and I had doubts. This is hard to explain, as everyone's witness is unique, but like a light bulb coming on. It hit me. This piece of gold I was looking at was but a grain among an infinite amount of "garbage". If I could reach into the ground and pull out this tiny piece of gold, then how easy it is for the ONE who put it there for me to find, to be able to touch each and every individual. I can not explain the emotion and relief I felt that day. I am very sorry to say Linda passed away a few months later. As hard as her passing was, she knew where she was going, and I do too. My search for GOD has ended, but my search for the precious metal made by the Greatest Physicist ever, goes on. I dedicate this story to my cousin Emily, Linda's duaghter who is fighting a brain tumor, and winning. |
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