Yep, I know, '"Randy" its more than a name, it's a condition.'
Born, educated and raised in West (By God) Virginia.
I came from a rural mountain town in south east WV, and moved to the large city (60K) of Huntington to start my college education. If you can imagine Gomer going to town, you would have a picture of me when I arrived in Huntington. Four lanes of traffic in each way, buildings over 10 stories tall, what is this world coming to.
It was the middle '60's and with work, Viet Nam et, al, I eventually made it through college by the end of the decade. Having to work full time, my grades reflected my lack of time for the books, but what the hey, I made it out. Entered Graduate school at the same university and got my second degree. I earned a gradute degree in mental health counseling, and have worked in Mental health ever since. I spent over 25 years doing most every type of mental health clinical service, but for the past 6 years I have been working for a behavioral health managed care company as a clinical director.
Met my future and current wife on a blind date. I was enamored by her Ford Thunderbird. I thought she had money. Oh well. We have been married for 30 years, and If I had killed her the first time I thought about it I would be out of jail by now.
I did not want any children and she wanted two, so we compromised at two. (I still don't understand how that happened!) LOL, but she warned me that morning, and I just would not listen.
We have a son and a daughter, and even though both are grown and gone, I can't seem to get them off the payroll. I am sure you have heard that voice "Dad, I am a little short this pay check".
My son obtained a double degree in Philosophy and English. (Anyone have a job for him?) I didn't think so. He works for an ISP doing tech support on the phone, and is considering going to graduate school.
My daughter completed 3 years of college in a variety of majors, and since college interfered with her social life, she stopped for a while. She works for Amazon.Com and has opened her own coffee shop. (Anyone want to order gourmet coffee by the pound?) I didn't think so. LOL
I got my first FP in the college book store. It was one of those translucent Sheaffer student FP's with 2 cartridges. One buck. I still have a half dozen or so of these pens from the 60's. I purchased a couple Parker Vectors and other real inexpensive FP's though out the years, and continued to use them. I guess it was the Scott-Irish in me.
About 10 years ago I bought my first "upscale" FP. A Waterman Laureat. Then about 6 years ago, I started buying vintage FP's here at the the various flea markets and antique stores, and now my "accumulation" is about 280 working FP's and another 30 or so in the basket awaiting parts or repair. My wife wants me to carefully label them so the day I die, she will post them on ebay.
I have a rotation of about 20 or so that I use. My "favorite" pocket pen user is a Sheaffer Masterpiece circa 1949, LF, and I have a Sheaffer solid 14K Snorkle desk pen that I use daily. I have 28 FP's at work today, and it rarely vairies by a couple or so.
Well, not being a writer, that just about sums it up.
Randy
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