She Calls Herself Super Sheller

Yes, my not that much younger sister considers herself a "Super Sheller". Now you would think this is because of the fabulous shells that she finds on the beaches of Florida. No, she considers herself a Super Sheller because she has one of these in her possession.






Do you know what piece of equipment I am referring to? Look closer. Still confused. Believe me anyone would be. The piece of equipment that she considers to be her "go to" tool of the trade is this.






Yes, that would be a carabiner. From morning to night, from breakfast to dinner Katie and I were instructed on the importance of a carabiner in a sheller's arsenal. In fact this photo was from a post lunch lecture on her beloved carabiner. By the end of the week even Katie was coveting a carabiner to call her own. I almost purchased a carabiner engraved with the name "Bob". Don't ask. The insanity, and lure of owning a carabiner of our own, had infected both Katie and I.

The purpose of her carabiner is to hold her essential tools. A net, flashlight and mesh bag.





With the right tools even a maneuver such as this doesn't prevent a Super Sheller from scanning the surf for shells. Of course, a Super Sheller owes it all to her carabiner.





With her carabiner Super Sheller is able to achieve the ultimate status of a sheller on the beach. She must carry her mesh bag and not allow it to hang (from her carabiner) because of its heavy weight due to the shells that have been collected on the beach.





Yes, Katie and I listened to her constantly brag about her carabiner and the status that comes from owning such a piece of equipment. Super Sheller even managed to find one of these on the beach. No, she found TWO of these during our week on Sanibel Island. This is a picture of the smaller of the two shells. We saw them in the store and they were priced between sixty and eighty dollars. Impressive, isn't it?






Yes, Super Sheller may have a carabiner but she doesn't have the shells because she threw them back in the Gulf. Believe me the local who was watching was as surprised as I was. I think her title of Super Sheller was tarnished a bit that evening on the beach. Yes, she may talk all she wants about her beloved carabiner but she doesn't have the shells to back it up. I think the title of "Super Sheller" may be up for grabs the next time we are at the beach. Carabiners optional.