Let me convince you I'm a wacko.

I'll start at the beginning.  

I have a pen I have had for about twenty years.  yes.  I really said twenty years. 20. years.

I used to be a fountain pen person, but while in grad school, I got tired of dealing with clogged pen nibs and smeared ink on my class notes and the side of my hand, so I replaced my Waterman fountain pen with a Waterman rollerball.  

This one:

Ever since, I have had that pen in the zipper pocket of whatever backpack/purse/satchel I have owned.  I haven't ever lost that pen. Now, I have other items I haven't lost.  I'd actually be wearing my RayBan, tortoise shell, cat-eye sunglasses from the same time, but my youngest daughter destroyed them when she was wee. (which for the record means I had those sunglasses for over fifteen years.)

Last Sunday night, I opened my purse, unzipped the pocket, and reached in for my pen. My pen was not there. Now, I don't leave the house much (kids to and from school, grocery shopping, library- that's it.) so I knew I hadn't lost my pen somewhere else.  I began a thorough and systematic search of my house. I couldn't find my pen.  I was hoping my pen would turn up, since it had to be in the house somewhere.

Of course, I had searched my studio- floors, tables, places it might have rolled under; I searched. My studio is on the third floor, and I also have my clothing and dressing table up there. (our bedrooms lack usable closets, a common experience with houses built a hundred years ago.)  

I probably go up and down the stairs to my studio forty times a day, at least.  Between three children, needing to pee, get a drink, pee again, change the water in my brush bucket, switch laundry, start dinner, empty the dishwasher, and continue on working, I go up and down the stairs in my house all day long.  

On Wednesday evening, after everyone was asleep, I went upstairs to my studio to print out a rough draft of a few pages, because I edit better on hard copy.  I walked up those stairs for what would have been the hundredth time since losing my pen, minimum.  I went into my studio and printed my stuff.  I turned, and went to head back down the stairs.  

There on the tippy-top step- you know that one that isn't really a step but the floor when you are done climbing the steps- but it is still wood like the steps? Dead-center, in the the middle, was my pen .Yep. Placed absolutely perpendicular to the stair edge.   I was so thrilled- my pen!  And then, I was a bit, um, puzzled-startled? (can't really find the right words...) 

My pen certainly hadn't been there.  At that moment, I was the only person awake, even my dogs were sound asleep. (Bella snores, loudly, btw.)

There's no place from where the pen could have rolled or fallen. I was in yoga pants and a t-shirt - pocket-less, and I had dressed in the basement. I've since tried to debunk the possibilities.  Joe's tried to debunk the possibilities.  

My pen is back; I sure wish it could talk. 

Comments

[Christine Hickey]

If only it could write about it's adventure...

[cynthia]

I am so tickled you are posting. I do a similar thing with my blogs. Lots I want to say/share and some how can't get to it/find the words and then time passes and life is different. I've stopped by to re-look at the journal from paint sample brochures. I love the scraped, sprayed paint technique you shared and I wanted to refresh myself with the whole process. And here you are...hooray! I think the pen missed you...and I so love reading your stories of your adventures and your littles. Thanks so much.

[Gina Geronime]

LK, just another creepy connection for us...I have a pen that I bought in the University of Pittsburgh Bookstore when I arrived on campus and was purchasing my very first round of books. That would have been August of 1984. I love the pen, it is a little Papermate clicker that I have to refill and I happily do. It is black and silver and my sister has tried to steal it from me numerous friends. Each time I pull it out of my purse to write a check, sign a receipt, etc. I get a comment on it and trust me it is an inexpensive little pen (but they don't make them anymore). I keep it in my wallet in a loop by my checkbook. I took out my wallet last week to write three checks and it was GONE. I have searched everywhere and I can't find it. I know that there are bigger problems in the world but it's really bumming me out. It's been with me for almost 30 years. Please ask your pen if it has seen my pen and if so, can it please tell my pen to come home. It's mom misses it terribly...

[Marisa]

Cool pens are the best.