Write on
By Charles P. Eberson
Senior Moments
The conversation with my wife started with, “Chuck, you have a problem.” I was immediately intrigued by the suggestion of there being only one. Then she clarified with “Actually, it is more of a fetish.” Now, she really had my attention. I settled in for what I thought would be an interesting conversation. “What is with all these pens? Your desk, the kitchen drawer, the dining room table?”
She had me. It is true. I have always enjoyed the physical exercise of writing and actually had wonderful penmanship until college lectures reduced it to something akin to a physician’s scrawl. Let’s face it, today we are doing more typing and texting than writing. However, I have been paying more attention to my penmanship, so a fine writing implement further enhances that experience for me.
Where and how I accumulate these pens is sometimes questionable. For instance, my wife and I were at our local bank signing papers for what was a considerable loan for us. Our banking representative asked if we wanted a bottle of water or a mint. I replied, “Can I keep the pen?” We walked out of the bank deeper in debt, but I had a spring in my step with that nice pen nestled inside my jacket pocket. Other times, I just happen to accumulate them in my travels.
I always had a fondness for fountain pens and used them when I felt the situation warranted a special touch. On one occasion, I was writing a check at an animal shelter and pulled out the fountain pen. The volunteer exclaimed, “Oh, a fountain pen, I didn’t think anyone used them anymore.” Exactly.
We are now in the season of gift-giving, and I was trying to think of a suitable gift for my son, an insurance professional with a publicly traded company of some distinction. He has an appreciation for the finer things. I thought a nice fountain pen would be a fitting gift. Signing documents with his colleagues and clients with this pen would lend a little panache to the event. But what fountain pen to purchase? I’m not about to spend around five hundred dollars for a Montblanc that may end up sitting in a drawer, so I did what one does today. I went on YouTube. My wife and I have different tastes when it comes to YouTube. Her channels are about tiny homes, camping and hiking. My channels are about photography, aviation and prepping. So, when she came in and saw me watching a man speaking passionately about his collection of over a hundred fountain pens, I got the eye roll and shake of her head. This was followed by various videos of “the top 5 fountain pens” or “10 fountain pens you must try.” I discovered there is a deep dark world of like-minded people with, as my wife says, pen fetishes but not only pen fetishes but fountain pen fetishes at that.
I admit, I do overthink some things. Well, a lot of things, but I am nothing if not thorough. After exhaustive research, I ordered a pen for my son. For those interested, I decided on a modest entry-level model, the LAMY Safari. It comes in various colors, a choice of nibs for you aficionados and engraved with your name for about $37. My next choice is the TWSBI Eco for around the same price.
So, thankfully handwriting is not completely dead. The writing experience can still be enhanced by those who want to take the time. Perhaps a nice Montblanc is in my future if anyone wants to start a GoFundMe for one.
Charles Eberson has been in the newspaper business for over 25 years. He has worked as a writer, advertising executive, circulation manager and photographer. His photography can be viewed at charles-eberson.fineartamerica.com
