The Pen I Love

Today the last PMOP black pen I loved died it's blue-gray death and now I am faced with a PMOP-less world--oh what will become of me?

It took literally YEARS to find my most perfect pen I loved to draw with. It was felt tip, but sharp and the ink was juicy. I found it purely by accident, grabbing a pen to write with in the mail room at my old job. You should have seen my face once I discovered it's easy and delicious glide. If it was a cartoon, there would have been hearts radiating above my head. I drew all of my flier stories with them and my entire 'zine. I had a good supply going at work too, but then I was changing jobs and would have to get more of my own. Luckily, I had a connection in the mail room and he bought me a couple of boxes, but when he went to order more there wasn't any. They had replaced it with a different model, who's tip is sharper, but doesn't last as long. The nib dries out faster than the old one. OH NO!

I don't know if any of you all can understand how much a dreamy pen can mean to someone, but I had been in search of a pen like that for some time. As a kid I was a marker officianato--knowing which ones were the best. Eve then I dreamed of a pen that had that quality of both strength and cheapness that I searched for. I have tried to find a black fine point felt tip marker with a depth of black that has an underbelly of blue so it won't turn brown with time or fade after it's dried. I also wanted something that didn't stink to high heaven or bleed through the paper easily. Don't get me wrong, the Sharpie and I are strong pals, but it bleeds like crazy and non-toxic or not, I can TASTE its fumes in the back of my THROAT.

I scavenged my last box of PMOPs, keeping it in a dark cool place as to not dry out the stash, and I went around to every stationary store and art store asking about this pen. I looked on-line and even wrote an e-mail to Paper Mate, but alas, NO! The PMOP is gone! Today it went the way with the dodo and I'll be using its less satisfying substitute until I find something better. At least I had 2 good years. Dear PMOP, thank you for your great effort.