Valentines Day 2002. It was our anniversary, and we decided to get away for a few days in the foothills not too far from home. After our brief, yet pleasant stay, we both were getting restless and opted to spend the rest of our time antiquing. After all we were celebrating our 26th anniversary. I can't imagine not doing a little window shopping on the way home.

Almost an entire day had passed doing just that, so we started our journey back home, still stopping at the occasional shops along the way. My wife by that time sat next to me with sore feet and a bit cranky in the front seat of our truck as the shopping hours began to take their toll. As we passed through another little town there was a shop that had gone unnoticed. Quickly I pulled over and asked if she didn't mind that I go in for a quick look see. She reminded me of her sore feet and that if I had to go, go ahead and that she would wait in the truck. My wife was unaware of what was about to unfold. With her feet killing her, she stubbornly sat there while I proceeded with my investigation.

It was almost closing time about ten 'til five, as I recall, when I entered in the dimly lit antique shop. It wasn't a very big one but it was crammed full of all kinds of stuff. But what caught my eye was a small stash of insulators on the floor in front of the counter. Keep in mind this was the first time I'd ever been there. My eyes slowly began to focus on the usual blah-blah insulators that infest these sort of places. As I continued to scan the rather meager offering, one seemed to be a different color of sorts, certainly not anything I've ever seen, but it didn't exactly jump off the shelf either. As usual it was covered with years of grime and dirt, but looking at it I knew that it was a CD 164 by the shape. But what the...was it green or what? 

As I picked it up and held it closer it appeared to be all there, no chips, no dings, no crashes. By this time, I was inspecting foul play or maybe one of those plasticulators I've heard about. Was this a trick or was this really what I thought it was? I had only seen photos of what I thought it was, and they are usually a shade or two off which makes identification a little obscure. 

Citrine was what raced through my mind, along with the fact that I only had five dollars on me at the time and with the lingering patrons still lurking around I was not going to put this baby down. Being just a few dollars short of the asking price my heart started to pound and I began to panic. It is closing time, my wife has all the money in the truck, she won't come in, I can't leave the store, I think I have what you only read about in my grasp. 

As I began to try to get the attention of my wife in the truck outside, I almost burned a hole in the window with my eyes, when all of a sudden the truck door flew open and out she came (said she felt something, later). From the moment she entered the cramped shop her eyes dropped to what I was holding onto, and she looked me directly in the eyes and gave me that Mona Lisa type smile so as not to tip anyone off, and asked, "Are you through, yet?" I responded in a clear voice "Honey, do mind if I buy just one insulator today?"

She kept walking towards me and as soon as she could hear, I quietly asked, "Is this what I think it is?" 

Her nod of approval and in a confirming whisper "It looks like citrine to me" was all I needed along with a few more dollars to add to my five spot and we would be on our way. By now, I was almost shaking noticeably as I placed the insulator on the counter. The way the owner looked at the insulator I thought he was going to tell me that someone had mistakenly priced it wrong or something along that line. 

"That's a pretty one" was all he said as he tried to peel the price tag off. "Will this be all today?" he asked politely. I looked over at my wife who by now was not experiencing any more foot pain (miraculously) and asked, jokingly, if he had more of these? 

Just then he turned and pointed to a box behind the counter that was holding nine more just like the one I was about to take home. I had a hard time trying to contain myself as I looked at my wife. And she looked back at me with a sad expression and said, "We already spent more than we should have, and that one would be a nice addition to our collection."

I grumbled about it all the way home, which was the longest leg of our trip! She reminded me to not get greedy and to leave the rest for other collectors. They're out there somewhere, you just have to know where to look. Meanwhile, take a look at the one we found and brought home with us last year. 

Happy Hunting!

ANNIVERSARY GIFT

So, what year is CITRINE?

Ten of these were for sale in an antique shop in February 2002. 
Who bought the other nine?