An acquaintance of mine whose daughter was about to be
married decided to give her a diamond ring that had been
in the family for several generations. The stone had never
been appraised, so the father asked a gemologist friend if
she would take a look at it. She agreed, but said that
instead of a fee she'd accept lunch at one of Houston's
finer restaurants.

A few days later, as he and the gem expert sat sipping a
glass of Chablis, he showed her the ring. She took out her
jeweler's loupe, examined the diamond carefully and handed
it back.

"Wow," said a diner who had been watching from the next
table. "These Texas women are tough!"