One of the strongest draws to fountain pens, for me, is that they bring fun to the mundane notetaking that pervades my work life. If I’m going to write for a living, I want the act of writing to be joyful. Life is too short to dread process in a push for an end product.

Socializing is returning to my area of the east coast. I’ve had an impromptu pen gathering and a planned pen group meetup in the span of two weeks. Huzzah.

A handful of good friends, my dungeons and dragons crew, gathered last Saturday for a barbecue. After eating, our meetup quickly transitioned into sharing pens and swabbing inks.

The KACO Edge has grown on me in the week since I added it to my collection. The makrolon texture keeps fingers from slipping. And the snap cap is fun, yet secure enough for pocket carrying.

I appreciate the aesthetics of vintage fountain pens — and the artistry of truly outstanding old-school nib work.

And I dig a pen that wears its history on itself. Scratches, dings and stains all drive home that the pen in hand may be older than I am, or than my parents are. I have a Parker Vacumatic that’s older than my grandparents.