Pens

Ever since I learned to write, pens have been an issue for me. Being left-handed, I walked around most of my school years with a black or blue edge to my left hand. For right-handers, that's from my hand going over what I've just written and smearing the ink. When I took up calligraphy in college (like I wasn't busy enough), it became a bigger problem--that ink really smears and when it does, your art is ruined.

So, I've always been on the lookout for the Pen--the perfect instrument that would not smear, would write smoothly, and was a fine-point; I hate fat letters. I thought I had found it a few years ago: the Pilot Better Retractable Ball Point. It is a slim tool, fine-point, and has no tendency to smear. I could buy it in a two-pack at Wal-Mart for a mere $2.37--life was good. Happy sigh....

But then, as in any good story, a conflict arose. Suddenly, I could no longer find my pen. Wal-Mart, Target, Office Max...the search was fruitless. I occasionally ran across a couple of packages at Wal-Mart, and you can bet I bought them, but those times were growing rare. My old ones were disappearing into that place pens go, probably padded by single socks, and no new ones were available. I had to find a substitute.

Well, I did--kind of. I can't remember its name right now; I think it involves a Zebra and Ultra and maybe "Steel," but who cares? In a rare moment of both boredom and clarity of thought, I googled my Pen and discovered that Office Depot (Glorious Paradise of Pennery) carried them in BULK. A 12-pack!

Then, in another serendipitous harmonious co-mingling of the planets, I actually ended up near Office Depot AND remembered the pens! I careened into the parking lot, fell out of the car, and tried to stroll casually into the store. My plan was to order the pens (how many, how many...?) but first I decided to check the shelf stock, and they had them there...on the shelf...bulk packs of my Pen. Twelve for $15.99. Sixteen dollars for pens? Well, no--that's crazy. I bought TWO boxes--$34 for pens! My pen holder now holds ONLY the Pilot Better Retractable Ball Point Pen--Fine Point--Black. Happy, happy sigh.