trophy

[Ron Gatrelle]

The word "trophy" has been used by myself and others here from the bad
connotation point of view   Well, I here move to the other side of the
debate table.  Trophies are also good - I still have my oldest daughters
cheep little bowling trophy - next to mine I got when I was about that same
age.  From my Boy Scout merit badges to my Ordination Certificate all are
types of trophies.  All the specimens in my collection are trophies.  A lot
of work went into finding then, determining them, and curating them in a
scientifically systematic way.

When Bob Robbins makes a collecting trip to the tropics, all the
hairstreaks he brings back to the Smithsonian are indeed trophies.  How do
I know this?  Because I am a collector.  Non-collectors do not know how
collectors feel about this activity.   Being a collector and hanging around
other butterfly collectors (institutional and private) in the field, at
society meetings, or at museums we are all the same - excluding the bad
apples.

Hey, you got to see this.
Oooooh, what a tape worm!  Where did you get that one - out of King Kong?
Things that make other people throw up - are trophies to some specialists
someplace.

Those watchers who are _really_ into photography of butterflies know the
feeling.
Hey, you got to see this shot.
Wow, what a great collection of photos you have.

Money?  A net $25.   A cabinet and drawers $1,200.  The collection of 900
specimens acquired over a life time of spare time collecting?   Priceless
trophies every one.   That is why we want to donate them to a safe home in
a museum - they are a part of our very soul - almost family.

Ron Gatrelle






 
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