My first encounter with a meteorite happened when I was about 7. My dad and I used to take periodic trips to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and one time while waiting to get into the show at the (then) Hayden Planetarium, he whisked me up in his arms and plunked me down right inside the Willamette meteorite. Talk about a surge of adrenaline! All I could think about was where this mysterious and awesome chunk of metal had been, and how it had gotten here. This year, I finally acquired a piece of the Willamette which sits on my desk and makes me smile every day!

After graduating from Wellesley College (studying Psychology, Theatre and Geology) and giving the corporate world a try for a few years, I escaped from the suburbs of New York City in the early 90s to seek my fortune in the far north. I currently live and work in beautiful Anchorage, Alaska. My husband and I opened a retail store called The Nature Source in 1994. We sell all kinds of interesting items including telescopes, science toys & kits, products which benefit various environmental causes, and of course rocks, minerals and fossils. While on a buying trip in Tucson in 1995, I saw one of those big white banners that just said "meteorites". I froze. Were they actually for SALE?, I wondered. The rest, as they say, is history. I came back to the store with a copy of Rocks from Space, and a carry-on bag bulging with meteorites.

During the last 7 years, meteorites have become my hobby and passion. I love selling them in my store, especially to people who have never had the opportunity to see or hold a meteorite. Each one has a great story and I make sure all my employees are up to date, and knowledgeable about what they sell.

I have also enjoyed making presentations to elementary school classes, and bringing along a big 64 pound Gibeon, as well as a piece of the moon (DAG 262) they can look at under the binocular microscope. I’ve also given the kids each a free little Indochinite tektite to take home, just because I love seeing the look on their faces! We also have a larger Gibeon on loan to the Imaginarium children’s museum here in downtown Anchorage, and have provided displays of meteorites for programs put on by the Eagle River Nature Center.

My personal collection has about 60 different meteorites, with multiples of many. It isn’t the biggest out there, and I don’t have a particular collecting plan, but there are definitely ceratin meteorites which just "speak to me" for one reason or another. I do tend to prefer small individual stones. Some of my favorites are my Murchison, Camel Donga, Allende, Gao, and of course my tiny and wonderful piece of Willamette.

On a personal note, I have 2 stepsons, a daughter, a son, 3 cats, 2 stores, 9 employees and one husband! Yes, I am busy and happy!

The Nature Source is located on Level 2 of the Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall at 320 W. 5th Avenue in downtown Anchorage. Please visit our website at www.thenaturesource.com. We’d love to see you in person or on the web!

Store phone: 907-258-3373

my email: jdevon@thenaturesource.com