My earliest exposure to fountain pens was when I was a child in first, second and third grade (1953, 1954 & 1955). We lived on Staten Island. My father taught at what was then Pace College, and my mother taught at a college on Staten Island. They both used Esterbrook fountain pens, among others. Of course the newspapers were full of advertisements for fountain pens - everyone used them. I remember many great trips as a child to Manhattan with him to see the Gilbert Hall of Science, the Fulton Fish Market, and various flea markets he often took me to on Saturdays. I remember many trips after school on the Staten Island ferry as a child. The fare then was 5 cents. My mother often gave me a quarter, so I got round trip fare and 15 cents left for a hot dog. If one of the toll takers motioned for me to slip under the turnstile I would have an extra nickel, and could then buy "kraut" for the hot dog! And have some change. Wha t fond memories. And how safe it was for a youngster to make this trip way back then. It is hard to see how much our world has changed since then.
I return to Manhattan several times a year, and have many fond memories of my earlier journeys with my father. And I love to visit the various pen stores among the museums and other great sights in NYC. I live in Point Pleasant, NJ, about 70 miles or so south of Manhattan, near Toms River, NJ.
I retired in 2005 I retired as a school psychologist from the NJ public school system with my 25 years of service in the pension plan. It has been something to see the changes in education and our society in general in the course of my career. After "9/11" my schools all installed crypto locks that could not be open without the password. I felt such sorrow for the young families I worked with after "9/11," as that was a watershed into our new world. How frightening and horrible for the youngsters. Yet they will grow up in this new world and learn to accept it - it is what it is. My father was rather old and did not understand what "9/11" was. I think if he did it would have broken his heart.
I bought my first fountain pen from Doug Kennedy at the "Appointments" store in Cincinnati, Ohio, many years later. I have several Lamy fountain pens, a Shaffer fountain pen, and several Vanishing Point pens (which are part of my daily users). I used to work as a school psychologist until I retired in 2005. I still am a consultant and evaluate children on a part-time basis. I also teach in the graduate school psychology program at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, NJ. I still use my Vanishing Point fountain pens regularly. What fun. They do get attention at staff meetings! Even any kind of decent ball point pen does also in this day and age. Whenever I am in Cincinnati I stop by at "Appointments" to browse and catch up with Doug Kennedy and buy another pen!
Of course one of the hardest moments for me was when my father passed away in June, 2002. He left me his Esterbrook fountain pen, which finally I got Richard Binder to restore for me. This is my favorite pen. Richard was so kind and helpful in this process. I will always remember this. And I also bought me a "real" fountain pen in memory of my father: A Pelikan 400 Fountain Pen. Sometimes I use it at work, often not.
Other interests : Ham radio, walking on the boardwalk, relaxing.
Links:
http://www.refdesk.com
http://www.nytimes.com
http://www.drudgereport.com
http://www.thedailyplanner.com
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