Share an Ink with Dad

Pens must run in our blood.

My Brother loves pens. My Dad loves pens. I never even realized my one Aunt had a whole collection of pens until I started working for Goldspot. I guess you can say we have a natural affinity for the fine writing instrument.

When my parents come over on the weekends to get together and see their Grandchild, we catch up on things with some small talk. "So, how's work, Tom?" - An innocent segue to talk "shop." After the typical bland response, "it's good," I delve into the new brands we're looking to carry, new pens that I think are really going to be hot sellers and opinions on any inks or pens that I got to try during the week.

"Tom," my Dad says with a smile and a gleam in his eye, "I saw this ink on your site.." Many of our Saturday conversations start like this over a stack of pancakes and coffee. See, My Dad rekindled his childhood love for fountain pens when I started working for Goldspot some time ago. It first started with a Pelikan because it reminded him of the ones he used in school. For me, I never used a fountain pen prior to working for a pen company. Once I did, it must have activated the "Pen Lust" gene (I believe it's on chromosome 12) and I still can't help myself to buy more inks and pens.

We both love turquoise bottled inks. Pelikan Turquoise, Edelstein Topaz, Waterman South Sea Blue, Pilot Iroshizuku Kon Peki Cerulean Blue, Noodler's Navajoe Turquoise, the list goes on.... One time, I bought a blue demonstrator True Writer from Levenger that was on sale and came with a bottle of their matching Bahama Blue ink. One weekend, I showed my Dad something I wrote with that color and all I hear over my shoulder is, "Ooooooooooooh."

So, I had to give the whole bottle to him. That's my Dad, one-half of the duo that brought me into this world and made me the person that I am today. I owe him an eternal debt of my gratitude, let alone a bottle of ink! I can't possibly thank him enough for always being there to support me in any of my endeavors. He was often a tough sell to convince that I was making a good decision, but that taught me to always do things for the right reasons and keep my head on my shoulders.

Recently, one of my favorite days I got to share with my Father was when we exhibited at the Philadelphia Pen Show. My Father is not an employee of Goldspot, but he came down with me and Sal to help man the tables. Armed with his extensive knowledge and experience with pens that is only rivaled by my own, he was a tremendous help in talking with visitors. He'd show off his TWSBI, Visconti Homo Sapiens and Pelikan m205 that were inked up to let prospective customers try out. Any time that he closed a sale, he would guide the customer to talk with me, his Son. His voice was so swelled with pride that even one of our customers had noticed and mentioned it to me.

I am truly blessed to have such a caring and supportive Dad and I would gladly share any ink or pen with him so we can both enjoy it together as Father and Son. Happy Father's Day, Pee-pa! (that's my 2-year-old Daughter's way of saying "Grandpa")

And a Happy Father's Day to ALL the Dad's out there. If you're getting a pen or ink as a present from your children, you should consider it a very good Father's Day, indeed!