The importance of pens

I have a favorite pen. It's a uni-ball vision elite. I like it because it's easy to write write with, the ink comes out smoothly and easily, and it doesn't send out blobs on ink. Also, the pens come in a wide variety of colors.

I use blue, red, green and purple in commenting on student papers. The color needs to stand out from whatever writing tool the student was using. I'm also big on color coding. About a week ago I was grading papers. My green, purple, and blue pens had all run dry. All I had left was black and red (coincidentally, our school colors!). I thought to myself, "I can't function." No, I'm not compulsive, I just need those other colors of pen.

When you become particular about your pens, or any office product, you need to shop at an office supply store. There used to be two conveniently located on my way to work - now there are none. I drive to lovely Crystal Lake, Illinois, almost every Saturday morning, so this morning I thought I'd keep my eye out for office supply stores on my way, and then stop at one on my way home. No office supply stores in 25 miles of driving on main routes. I passed every imaginable fast food chain, coffee shops, hardware stores, Targets, auto repair, restaurants and bars, a tattoo parlor, even a book store and two fabric stores. No office supply stores.

I know they're out there, somewhere. I will find them. I will stock up on pens.