Geologic treasure

My father-in-law was a geologist, a mining engineer, and the head of the department of Geology at our nearby state university.  He was world renown, serving in UNESCO and acting as a consultant in developing countries to locate and mine their resources.  In the forties, fifties, and sixties, he figured prominently in the recovery of oil in the Middle East, diamonds in South Africa, and cinnabar, a precursor to mercury for primer material, in the United States during World War II.  More than once, he was in danger of kidnap for ransom or political gain.  Or in mortal danger as when he was smuggled out of Budapest along with then-Ambassador Shirley Temple Black when the Russians invaded in 1967.

He was a Guggenheim Fellow, a scholarly writer, a field researcher, and a scientist.  His mind was truly awesome.  

I took a 200 level Geology series at the university to fulfill the science requirement for my degree.  I did so at George's suggestion, he himself having spent every summer growing up in geology field camps with his father and graduate students. (Yes, I was dating George way back then...).  And, George majored in Mining Engineering during his first attempt at college (you know, before the distractions of girls, beer, skiing put an end to that...but, more about that later)  I never took classes from his father, because his father was the 'creme de la creme' of professors, reserved for graduate and doctorate students, not lowly undergrad 200 level students.  But, the series awakened in me a love of the powers that have formed our incredible earth.

After George and I married, we took trips with his folks to the mountains and deserts and sea shore nearby. My father-in-law kept me spellbound with his descriptions of the rocks, the forces, the history, the fossils, everything.  A skipping stone in his hands became a historical find.  I wish I had had the technology to video tape him, or the foresight to record his voice. But, I do have his memory, and that I will always treasure.