A letter to my pen

by Brian Enigma on May 16, 2007 4:09pm

in hipsterpda

Dear Space Pen,

Although I love you dearly, I believe it is time for us to start see­ing oth­ers.  You have a beau­ti­ful body, which is what ini­tially attracted me to you.  Your com­pact, sleek form that elon­gates into a full-sized pen is absolutely amaz­ing.  As the ini­tial lust for your form-factor is wear­ing off, I am com­ing to the real­iza­tion that it is the stuff on the inside that really counts.  This is, unfor­tu­nately, your ugly side.  Even though you have a fancy pressurized-gas ink car­tridge that can write upside-down, under water, through but­ter, or in zero grav­ity, at your heart you are truly just another ball­point pen, with all of the bag­gage that goes along with that.  I have very lit­tle need to be writ­ing while dan­gling upside-down from a cliff or while snor­kel­ing.  I have every need to write in smooth, con­sis­tent, dark strokes.  At this, you fail.  Your ink comes out unevenly.  Recently, you have taken to ini­tially releas­ing large gobs of ink before being able to write.  Not only are these drips of ink unsightly, they are sticky and stain hands, pock­ets, and other papers.

I have tried my best to make things work.  I tried chang­ing my writ­ing style to bet­ter account for your uneven lines.  I tried search­ing far and wide for a roller­ball or gel ink car­tridge that fits your body.  I even inves­ti­gated mod­i­fy­ing ink car­tridges for other pens to fit you.  In the end, though, noth­ing worked and all I am left with is a beau­ti­ful pen and inkstained fingers.

Very soon, a Cross Ion tele­scop­ing pen will arrive.  I do not want you to be fear­ful or resent­ful.  I just want you to under­stand that the Cross will pro­vide more of what I need.

Sin­cerely,

Brian

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Simon Goetz June 10, 2007 at 6:06 pm

I still love my space pen. I am now addicted to twirling it absentmindedly, high-school-debater style. This has caused me to drop the little silver vibrator so many times that it is pockmarked with tiny dents.

I also revel in the unpredictable beauty of its uneven line.

My main problem with the design is that it’s too sleek for my pockets. It slips out all the time, and I panicked after losing it briefly at a bar and then at home a few weeks ago. So now, to give it traction in my trouser action, I wrapped a rubber band around the center. No more slippage!

I even sleep with it at my side. Haven’t slept with a girl in a long, long time. I’m sure you’re surprised.

Been reading your blog on the regular for a week now. Enjoying it, but not as much as I enjoy my space pen.

Sincerely,
Simon G.

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2 brian June 11, 2007 at 9:40 am

Hey! Simon! You’re the same Simon I met with Connoly and/or Julian at Aalto about 4 months ago, right? (Yeah, I don’t get out much.) That rubber band tip is a really cool idea. I owned (well, I guess I still own them–they’re just in the back of the desk drawer now) two Space Pens for that same reason. One would fall out (usually in the car seat or easy chair) and I’d be penless until I found it. The Ion pen that I am using now has a rubber grip, so it hasn’t been an issue, fortunately. I have a few friends who would love to know that rubber band tip, if you don’t mind me passing it along.

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