Mauritanian phenolic beads and Tibetan coral. The coral is strung without the silver beads and without the banded beads, just some small black wood disks in between for accents.

We know that eventually all our beads will go to new owners. Joyce had the best philosophical attitude about losing beads - that perhaps a new owner will eventually get them by some circuitous route, know what they are, and really appreciate and love them.

Oh! Rosanna, courage! it's very hard to loose something we love!, we open our eyes wide and hope we'll see them on sale.

Oh Rosanna, NO!!! I am SO sad to learn that you lost these precious pieces. How totally awful.

It's a reminder of all the things we already know. We generally felt pretty secure with the way bags are handled in train travel, and being so close with fellow travelers it's easy to trust...it's human nature, after all. But times, they are a changin'...quickly and steadily as times get harder, the middle class disappears, etc...etc...Sorry to be a bummer. So sorry that happened, Rosanna. In the future I will attempt to travel lighter, and with nothing of value in the bag I leave downstairs in the luggage compartment. All irreplaceables will be with me personally.

I wonder if police agencies in N. California maintain any sort of database or send bulletins to pawn shops in the area? The thieves who stake out coin shows and follow dealers as they leave are sophisticated and do not market stolen coins locally. But if this was just a random luggage theft, the beads would likely appear locally. So sorry to hear this, Rosanna.

And they are such beautiful necklaces and beads. I do hope you get them back. I once had a bag disappear en route from Tokyo to O'Hare; it had some nice small antiquities in it that I could quite easily have carried with me, but I opted for the ease of not having to bother. And still, all these years later, I remember them and feel the loss.

Still searching for images of the lost necklaces - this was an antique Russian Orthodox niello cross, combined with six nice folded Islamic era beads and some Tuareg silver tubes.

I'm humbled by all the wonderful words of support - they go right to my heart!

Still working on the documentation of the loss, and working with the Amtrak police & insurance company. Hope to get coverage for maybe 2/3 of the total loss amount. But of course that doesn't replace the unique beads, some of which may never cross my path again.

Somehow the bead karma will work out, I'm sure!

As I work on the tedious required documentation, I'm trying to remain upbeat. So I'm whistling along with one of my favorite Monty Python ditties - see link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBiLNN1NhQ

Some things in life are sad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this will help things turn out for the best
And always look on the bright side of life!

I still have a lot of great beads, a lot of great friends, and no laundry to do when I got back home!

Love your outlook. Great friends, great beads, and no laundry, yep.

Dear Rosanna,

So sorry for your loss!
I hope one day you come across everything you lost, or somebody from this forum will so you can get it back.

I remember my stolen beads/jewelry a while back. Never found them though, but still thinking about them.

There is a picture of one of my stolen items attached, never lost hope to see it again.

Yankee

I wish I had more of those green feather beads to gift you and help put a smile on your face.

Matt

I am so sorry for you Rosanna. This must feel like a stab to the heart. I hope sincerely that you will be able to recover these. But please keep on beading!