I know I'm setting myself up for all kinds of jokes from friends and associates, but I am officially announcing my status as a collector of marbles. I have kept an old tin can full of the little glass spheres under my bed since I was a kid. Only recently has my interest in them been renewed, however. While on vacation in Prescott, Arizona, in 2007, my cousins Jimmy and Sheila took Frankie and me to a unique downtown gift shop called The Raven. It specializes in custom made papers, pens, cards, and other unusual gift items. What really caught my eye, though, were marbles for sale inside their glass display case. I was fascinated with the infinite variety of sizes, colors, and designs. I'd never seen anything like them, and I had to have some. Now, whenever we have a chance, we look for the colorful little gems at flea markets, antique stores, and specialty gift shops. Frankie bought me some additional ones during a trip to Galveston this summer. (I wish she'd gotten more--they were probably swept out to sea with Hurricane Ike just a few weeks afterward!) All this information serves as an introduction to explain why I read this most recent book: Aggies, Immies, Shooters, and Swirls : The Magical World of Marbles by Marilyn Barrett. I purchased this book a couple of years ago at the request of Marla George who was teaching the Gifted & Talented program in the room next door to our school library. She thought it would be a fun idea to teach her students about marbles and try to spark some interest in the games. Sadly, it didn't. Today's children seemed to be too wired for quick action and instant gratification of computer games rather than the slow and steady pace of a marble tournament. Their loss.How did I come to read this book? A discussion among co-workers one day led them to the conclusion that we had all lost our marbles for staying in the education profession. Mrs. Elliott, who oversees one of the Computer Labs, brought forth an old bumpy, chipped marble that had been found after a neighbor's house was torn down. With a laugh, she proudly (& loudly if you know her!) proclaimed that she still had one marble left. I quickly responded that I still had a full jar of them on display in my living room, and that I would be happy to bring them to school and show them if they didn't believe me. Oops. The cat's-eye was out of the bag, so to speak. I think they were impressed when I returned the following day with a sample of my meager collection. So, now you know. And now I know more about collecting marbles after reading this thin but insightful book. It covers the general history of the toy, their names, nicknames, and prominent manufacturers, as well as current stars gaining attention and respect in the field of glass art. Feel free to stop by the middle school library and check it out! It's suitable for all ages.
