One thing I miss doing is writing on paper. I don't write much in a paper journal these days, nor do I write as many notes to people to be sent by snail mail.

It isn't that I would want to go back to the days before e-mail was part of my daily routine. I just sometimes wish I was doing the e-mail in handwriting instead of typing it. I like the feel of a pen in my hand. I like seeing words handwritten on a page. And I like my own handwriting---yes, thanks, I know that's vain.

I like fountain pens, but I'm fairly rough on them. I wind up spreading out even the finest points to be in the medium range. But I did discover a workable trick for that---hold the pen backwards. I mean with the shiny side of the nib closer to the paper. Looks a little weird to watch, but it works well.

Something else I like to play around with is using a calligraphy nib with just regular handwriting. It's how I kept my journal for a number of years, just because I wanted to do it.

I have a lot of pens, mostly not fountain pens. Some have colorful ink (peacock blue is a favorite), but most are blue or black. I also have a few of the pens that schools used to have students use, that were dipped into inkwells. (There are perks of being a teacher's child; when something is declared useless to the school system and not salable as surplus, well.....) Those are fun pens to write with, and I do, occasionally. But one must be careful about those bottles of ink!

A real treasure to me is a dip pen that was my father's. This was meant to be used on a desk, and looks a lot like a desk pen of today. But the base of it is an inkwell. And the best part? Many years after his death, it's still in fine shape and perfectly usable.

Hmm---I think I'll go write a letter.

A piece of good news: Patrick is home from the hospital, and well on the road to recovery. He sent e-mail to his notify list this afternoon. The malady causing his problems is a type of vasculitis. Thoughts and prayers are encouraged and appreciated. If you don't know the back story on this, check the last several of Patrick's entries, beginning with this one.