I was at a rock club show once and was buying some stones when a lady behind me asked the vender if he would make her a ring. He said, "I only sell stones, I do not make jewelry, but maybe Don could make it for you." Needing money, I told I would, and asked her what she wanted.

Her description was: I want a rainbow of 10 small opals that form an arc at the top of the ring, going from yellow to red. In the center of the ring I want "God" made from quartz.

That is when I should of said "God? Goodbye!" Unfortunately, I needed the money and gave her a price of $450.00. She said, "Yes, you're the only one that said they could make this ring," so fast that I wish I would have said "$450 for the labor and $450.00 for the stones and the gold!" Alas, I didn't.

After hours of shopping for the 10 opals and losing several of them during setting them. You know--they had to be small to get them all on a ring in a rainbow. Talk about the "wee ones" running off with stones! They disappeared as fast as I dropped them.

THEN, I had to find "God." I talked to several local faceters, and not one of them wanted to facet quartz, let alone "GOD!"

So, with quartz crystal in both hands, I went into a metaphysical trance and the answer came to me! (just kidding!) I did have a great idea! What better could represent "God" than a Herkimer Diamond. It is beautiful; it is quartz, and without any help from me, man or woman, it is a natural, sparkling gemstone! What could better represent "God" than a natural crystal used just as it came from the heaven and earth!

I was so excited! I finished the ring and delivered it. The lady took one look at it and said:

"THATS NOT 'GOD!'"

I could not believe that I was so stupid or so money hungry that I thought I knew what she thought "God" looked like, or that I could make "God." I told her she was right, and then I said "Good bye!"

The punch line then was she said, "Wait, It's not 'God' but I will give you $250.00 for the ring."

I almost said: "Yes", then said: "No, if it ain't 'God' for $450.00, it sure as heck ain't worth 'God' for $250.00!" (When this happened, I did not use the word "heck." I just did not want to offend anyone on the list that is sensitive to four letter words.

Anyway, she bought the ring for $450.00 and taught me a very important lesson. Since then, when someone ask me to make them something, I get their description of what they want, and tell them, "I will make this as you described, but as I wish to make it. You will be the first person that can buy it, if you like it. If you do not like it you do not have to purchase it, but I will not make another one."

I learned that if you make something that you like, you can always sell it!

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