# 1 turn the page: kaweco sport fountain pen

The sun drenches the trees in gold, their brown and red leaves fluttering in the breeze. There, one floats to the ground, swaying this way and that way. It joins the pile in the ground, damp from the morning’s shower. Another one falls. A pair of bikes pass by the pile of leaves, their riders chatting, wrapped tight in their scarves. Another leaf flutters, then frees itself from the branch. The sun moves behind the clouds, and for a moment the golden glow of the autumn disappears. Then, it moves back out, like turning the light switch of autumn on. Trees bask in the morning light, glistening.

It has already been over a month since school started, and maybe it’s time to revive a fleeting ripple. Since changing website providers, it still feels foreign, devoid of things that make it home. Years of writing gone, stored in a flash drive somewhere. All of your lovely comments, messages, all of it gone, lost into the depths of the internet. This is to be a new page, a new beginning. The reason why I had named this blog “a fleeting ripple” was because life is so temporary and the beauty of it is to enjoy it while it lasts. Well, I loved writing a fleeting ripple over the years, and I loved fountain pens even more.

Now, I don’t know what to do. I keep having ideas of what to write about and what I want to share. Of course it revolves around pens and stationery, the little comforts of daily life.

Okay, let’s make a deal. I want to start over, build a home for me and my pens on the internet once more. This time though, I don’t want anything to do with social media, anything to do with the fast paced way of things are on the internet. This time, it’s only you and me, giggling over how great pens are. It’s time to slow down, because life already whirls past so fast.

Well, what’s better than to start it out with the Kaweco Sport, my most used pen? This little burgundy pen has been my companion throughout my degree, and now in my masters too. I’m really proud that both me and this pen managed to graduate, I was starting to have doubts at one point. It has a fine nib, too many deep scratches, and a new clip that finally gives me the opportunity to make sure that it doesn’t slide around when I (inevitably) throw it into my bag again. There isn’t much to say about the nib except that it’s slightly softer than the other Kaweco nibs I have, perhaps it is true that nibs magically “break in” once you use them enough. That’s a discussion for another day though. On the other hand, I’m still not sure if the clip is the right thing for me. Once posted, it makes the pen ever so slightly back heavy and it’s not the pen I’m used to anymore. Do I embrace the change and enjoy the practicality the clip provides? That seems to be the path forward for now.

The unposted stub (it really feels like a remnant then) of the pen fits comfortably enough for very quick notes, and the posted pen fits nicely in the cusp of my palm. The profile is wide just enough to be comfortable, and slim enough to slide next to a tube of lipstick in a purse pocket. I carry this pen all. the. time. everywhere.

It’s small and lightweight, but the biggest upside is that it blends into a school environment very well. It’s not a pen that catches people’s eye or one that they reach for when I’m not there. The plastic can really take a beating too, even after being crushed so many times, it has not given up on me yet. Over the past 5 years, it has taken the abuse of being dropped, thrown around, not being cleaned for months at a time and much more. It still works perfectly fine every single day. Honestly, I really aim to be more like my pen, it’s hard to show up everyday to something.

There isn’t much to say about the Kaweco Sport, and still for some reason, when someone says “the pen is mightier than the sword” a burgundy Kaweco Sport pops into my head.

Then, I think; what is the perfect pen, is this the perfect pen for me, or what does a perfect pen mean even. Maybe this is the perfect pen. It shows up, subtly, reliably, everyday. When I’m changing bags or purses it’s the first thing I reach for, and then chug it into my bag next to my keys and wallet. It’s familiar, covered in my fingerprints and scratches from my various keys over the years. Nothing puts me into a “let’s go” mindset more than this pen. I pick up my notebook, my Kaweco Sport fountain pen, and sit down in a busy lecture or in a loud studio. Take a deep breath. I am ready for this.

As always, thank you for reading. Maybe down the line there’ll be an archive of old posts, but for now, it’s a blank slate. I need this, and I hope you don’t mind hanging out for a while too. Welcome back!