A Proper Pen

A Proper Pen. 
 

I like a good pen. A good pen has to have a certain heft and a particular balance. A good pen offers an effortless flow of ink. A good pen is unyielding; the cheap flexy logo-ed pens given out by political candidates are not useful. Size matters- a good pen is of a noticeable circumference-I have to feel it between my digits. Lastly, a good every day pen must have a soft grip area.

My current pen of choice is the Uni-Ball Grip 0.7 mm. At twenty dollars a dozen, the Uni-Ball is a good value. These pens meet all my qualifications. Hard to quantify, but they feel good in my hand. They last a long time. I often give them away before the ink runs dry. Best of all, the ink flows as smoothly as a meandering river during the dog days of August.

Then there is my special occasion pen. Mine is a Parker Urban Premium Metallic. It weighs 50 grams- a perfect heft in the hand. The curves of the pen match the curves of my hand. The ink flow feels as friction-free as ice on ice. My Parker, with its matte aluminum finish and shiny stainless trim, is pleasing to the eye. Most importantly, this pen once belonged to my friend and fellow cancer warrior, Professor Eric Freedman. His marvelous wife Donna gave me this pen after Eric died.

So, yes, my Parker is for momentous writing. Like writing this post in longhand.