My Wishing Rock: When I became a scientist

'Curiosity is the cure for boredom. There's no cure for curiosity.'

When I became a scientist, July 14th, 1947

Family walks to the nearby seaside close to St. Michael's Mount
were the highlight of my childhood.

When the tide was out, we’d first look to see what had been washed up on the beach.

Then we’d stare into the rock pools, hoping to see a tiny red and blue crab scuttling under the dark brown weed. They'd move so fast.

Then, we’d collect some smooth pebbles.

We’d look especially for those pebbles shaped like a heart, or, even better, those with a vein of milky-white quartz running through them.

They were special. VERY special!

Mum said they were special because they were wishing rocks.
You could hold one in your hand and send someone a wish.

Finding a wishing rock made me feel good.
I’d pick it up, hold it in my hand and slowly wrap my fingers around it. When the pebble felt warm, I closed my eyes and thought about someone very dear to me…..

Of course, I always sent my very best wishes to my Mum and Dad.

I loved going to the beach, and I can remember one very special time I went hunting
for wishing rocks.

It was the day of my fifth birthday, I was really surprised when my Dad

met me at the end of the school day.

Dad said we were going hunting for pebbles on Lariggan Beach. Wow! Just me and Dad. Pebbling. On Lariggan Beach! After school - on my birthday!
Could it get any better than that?

I felt so special, and I knew in my bones that something magical was about to happen. And, I was right - what a memorable treat it turned out to be.

The sky was bright blue and the sun a shimmering yellow. The tide was out and the smooth black and grey and white pebbles were wet and shiny.

As we stepped over the pebbles, Dad reached in his pocket and brought out two tins. “Here,” he said, giving me one, “take this treasure tin - and fill it. With wishing rocks.” With a broad smile and a twinkle in his eye, he said, “Bet I fill mine first!” The competition was on!

I filled mine with heart-shaped pebbles and wishing rocks as fast as I could. I so wanted to tell Mum that I filled my treasure tin before Dad filled his.

Then, I spotted something different. There, lying with all the other pebbles, was a bright yellow stone. It didn’t look like any of the other pebbles. It was so different, more like a tiny slice of pineapple.

Whatever was it?

It stared up at me, wanting to be touched and admired - by me!

I bent over and picked it up…… I showed my Dad. Because I knew he knew everything, I asked: “What’s this, Dad?”

I was so surprised when Dad said he didn’t know. “Don’t know. Never seen a rock like that before.Take it home,” he said, “ and show your Mum.
She’ll know.”

When we got home, I was beside myself with excitement. “Mum, Mum, I beat Dad!
I filled my treasure tin first!”

I showed her the wishing rocks I had collected on the beach
“And, see what else I found!’ I said, as I showed her the yellow rock.
Mum didn't know what it was either, but I knew by the look on her face that the yellow rock was special. And, I found it on my birthday!
"Take it to school tomorrow and show Miss Harvey.

She'll know - teachers know everything!"

When I went to bed, I tucked my wishing rockand the yellow rock under my pillow.

I couldn't wait to get to school the next day. I bet Miss Harvey would know what I found.

As I stood by her tall desk the next morning, I spluttered, "Miss Harvey, Miss Harvey, see what I found on the beach yesterday.

Went there with my Dad, you know, after school. When the tide was out.”

Every word came out in a rush…..As Miss Harvey looked inside my scratched OXO tin, her eyes widened! It wasn’t, apparently, a pebble.

She said it was called AMBER, a fossil and millions of years old.

Miss Harvey held my golden amber in her hand,and said loudly,
so everyone in class could hear,“Show it to everyone.
Pass it around. Share it - that’s what scientists do.
And,Johnny Paull, you’re a lways collecting rocks and things - you're a real SCIENTIST!!”

My head glowed. It was on fire. Me, John Paull, that was it.
I was a SCIENTIST!

I was hooked. I couldn’t wait tell my Mum and Dad what my teacher had called me. They both smiled....

"'Course you're a scientist, Johnny.......we've always known that!'

And, I’ve been a SCIENTIST - and an admirer of nature's delights - ever since, thanks to my Mum and Dad and my teacher.

The years have flown by, and, when opportunities and challenges came my way, I have wished and wished - clutching my favorite wishing rock and my beautiful amber.

I know that sometimes the wishing rock really does send wishes……

....................................................................

Many years later, when teaching 5th graders,we were sharing their treasure tins at the start of another day, the tins were renamed by Michael, one of my students, when he said to me, “My tin is like a museum, don’t you think?

My dad says mine is a pocket museum.