Blame it on lepidolite

I was recently given a ten-pound slab of lepidolite taken right out of a million-year-old riverbed somewhere in the expanse of sagebrush and dirt surrounding the town where I live. I can't say exactly where because the guy who found it is filing a claim with the state of Wyoming so he can mine the area and sell it by the pound on eBay. He gave me a chunk so I can write a story about him for Rock and Gem magazine. But until he gets his claim, the location of this newfound stash of multicolored mica will remain a mystery.

Metaphysical believers call Lepidolite "the stabilizer." It has the alleged power to alleviate stress during difficult transitions. My slab has been sliced through on one side and polished to reveal a dark, sparkling purple surface. Lepidolite comes in a a bunch of colors, some with a high concentration of lithium. According to my guy, the lithium makes it sparkle. I like having my own chunk of lepidolite around--especialy because of the lithium. Scientists say lithium was among the first minerals created in the Big Bang. Now people use it as an antidepressant and as a catalyst to make meth. It's highly reactive--ironic for a stone that is famous for its stabilizing effects.

I've been petting my new rock and feeling more at peace with myself lately.

I brought it home yesterday and set it on my nightstand. Then, as I was getting ready to turn in, I got the urge to unleash myself. And I started blogging--a self-indulgence that is highly uncharacteristic of me. I think I know what's to blame.