The Visconti Pen

I have a particular pen that I like to use, a JetStream pen by uni-ball. This pen isn’t particularly expensive as it retails for $2+ but its well worth it. I pay for them myself, as I can’t see asking my boss for a reimbursement for a box of pens especially since I use them all the time for almost everything I write. I have very bad vision and the ink used with this particular pen works very well for me. I can see the words quite easily and it doesn’t smudge should I accidentally run my hand over a newly written document. This is my favorite pen especially for work as the long hours that I put in the office can take a toll on my vision. I even keep refills for this, my favorite pen at the office just in case I run out of ink.

On Monday of this week, I couldn’t find my pen. It wasn’t on its normal resting place on my desk. I checked my purse for my back-up pen and realized I had apparently used it and had neglected to return it to my purse. As a creature of habit, I was finding it difficult to use another blue pen. I set off to look in our supply rooms for some alternatives for the day and found a couple of blue pens. One of the blue pens had ink that was just too light to be seen easily, another blue pen’s ink smudged all over my palm, and yet another blue pen felt awkward to hold. I had turned into the Goldilocks of Blue Pens. I plodded on with my day but grimaced every time I had to use one of the borrowed pens.

As part of my job for XYZ, I have a lost and found collection of items at my desk. Buttons, keys, change, and pens you name it and it most likely will find its way to my desk. In desperation I turned to the lost items and found a pen I thought I could use and discovered this pen.



It's pretty and had been in Lost & Found for about a year and remained unclaimed. When I tried to write something I realized the ink had run out. Inspiration struck and I tried using the refills of my favorite pen and it took them! Hurray! I was back in business and continued my day away.

Today my boss returned from an extended trip. There were a bunch of items for him to sign and since he couldn’t find his pen he grabbed my pen from the desk. I cringe when people do this because if my favorite pen is in their line of view they always grab it, either say it feels good too and sometimes walk off with it. An awkward moment ensues in which I say to that individual, “Can I have my pen back please” and then wait for them to hand it back. Most of the time I get it back but if they walk off with it, it’s gone, never to be seen again. It’s only a $2+ pen so I shouldn’t be worried but it’s my favorite pen.

As my boss signs the papers he asks me where I got the pen from and I said I found it. I remember when I found it too, it was last year in the supply room closest to my cube and was by the fax machine. Abandoned. All alone until it joined the residents of Lost and Found in my desk. Guess what boss says, I think this was my pen, I had it awhile ago but you can keep it, it looks like a girl’s pen anyway. “Thank you,” I said and continued to use it.

As I said, it’s a pretty pen so at lunchtime I went on the internet to see what type of pen it really was.

I’m familiar with the Cross Pen. You know the one people usually give out as a present for a college graduation or for your first job. It’s the cool pen you break out to sign checks or at a meeting that makes people think “Nice Pen.” For the record I know I’m silly. On the pen clip it says Visconti and I headed over to their website to check it out. My jaw dropped.

Turns out the pen that lived in my drawer for a year is a Visconti Van Gogh in Ocean Blue Stainless Steel and runs anywhere from $195 to $149. Here is an excerpt from one of the website featuring this exclusive pen.

Italian pen makers Visconti have created a special Van Gogh fountain pen. Its pleasant weight allows it to rest easily in the hand and balance well when writing. Visconti's Van Gogh combines natural resin and vegetal components in their hot Press Mould process to produce beautiful, one-of-a-kind writing instruments for you to enjoy. Their most popular line continues to impress with its individuality and colors reminiscent of individually crafted impressionist paintings. Try one today and bring forth your inner-Van Gogh.

Shut up!

Who would have thought that I would have had a pen in Lost and Found valued at $150+ in my desk for a year, only to use it and be reunited with its owner and then be given to me by my Boss because it’s girly. So thanks Boss, and now I’ll be sure to keep this pen with me at all times out of the view of those who might “borrow” it. I might even craft a special padded bag for it to rest in when I’m not bringing forth my own inner Van Gogh.