February Thaw

February Thaw

Late February, winter lingers
Though icy fingers' grip grows weak
The cat lies sleeping on the sunlit patch of carpet
Dreaming of summer's warmth, soft but strong
I long to feel the warmth
Silky soft on chilly skin
I feel the purr start deep inside
The smile coming unbidden
But welcomed all the same
Snowy mounds collapsing softly
Their steely life sucked from within
By afternoon's velvety warmth
Soon they will disappear
Leaving gleaming wetness
Revealing imagined, hoped for
Glimpses of green
The green will come
Though for today
It is just a wistful dream
Born on cashmere yellow rays of sunlight
Living deep in a heart
Longing for spring

Why Do I Make Pens?

I suppose this is a reasonable and valid question, especially in today's mass produced, "one-size-fits-all" world. But it is a question that has no quick and simple answer. Perhaps, being more precise, it is a question that has far too many answers. I find myself somewhat at a loss for words as I try to explain deeply held beliefs and feelings.

Why does a painter paint?

Why does a builder build?

Why do I make pens?

The first and foremost reason I make pens is the joy of fashioning something I find beautiful and of worth. To watch the materials I have carefully selected be slowly transformed from their native state into a finished design of my choosing brings to me a great and overwhelming satisfaction, one that often defies description. Though perhaps on a different scale, I believe it is the same passion, the same joy of creation, known by the artist when he lays aside his brushes and views the finished painting, the architect and carpenter when they step back and gaze at the finished building, the author when she sees her published work. This joy of creation, of having formed something one loves, is a heady and intoxicating emotion indeed.

I am, among other things, a writer. A pen is a major tool of this craft. As do many craftsmen, I derive considerable pleasure from the use of a well made tool. An exquisitely hand crafted pen, one who's size, weight, balance, and other characteristics have been chosen to fit MY hand, MY unique style of penmanship, is a joy to use. To have MADE that tool intensifies the pleasure.

As with all hand made products, no two pens are ever alike, just as no other person is like me, nor I like any other person. This uniqueness brings about a character, a style that cannot be duplicated. Because of my intimate involvement in it's creation, there is a part of me in each pen. I sometimes sit for minutes on end, lost in admiration of the small object d'art that I hold in my hand. The form, the finish, the materials, all combine in ways that are beautiful to my eyes. Again, this beauty is partly a result of choices I made, of the skill with which I shaped and combined things. That I am in part responsible for that beauty is very satisfying .

One last reason, perhaps the biggest reason, truth be known, is the reaction my pens bring from those I show and present them to. I never tire of the wide-eyed looks of appreciation, or hearing the astonished and delighted exclamations of, "Wow! YOU made this? It's BEAUTIFUL!". Those words resonate deeply into my being, a tonic to my heart and a balm to my soul. They render inconsequential the hours and effort I have expended in the production of the object of admiration. They leave me eager to race back to my shop, burning with the desire to produce an even BETTER masterpiece. The appreciation of one's efforts, be they artistic, literary, or whatever else, is something we all find fulfilling.

That is why I make pens.

Turning to Success

I make pens; fountain pens, roller balls, ballpoints, mechanical pencils, all types of pens. This activity combines several of my interests, the collecting of fine writing instruments, a love of wood, a desire to create things both useful and beautiful. I find turning to be both challenging, and at the same time, relaxing.

One of the main tools of my pen making is the wood lathe. On it, I mount a square or irregularly shaped bit of wood. Then, through a series of mostly planned and calculated maneuvers, the beautiful body of a fine wooden writing instrument takes shape. I say "mostly planned and controlled" because there is always the chance of a slip, a mistake. While THESE events are not totally in my control, they can and are reduced in number as my skills and knowledge increase. They also challenge my creativity and ingenuity, to transform them from miserable mishaps to happy accidents.

I find the turning both demanding and fulfilling. To take a rough piece of wood and make it into something of usefulness and beauty, is extremely gratifying to me. I watch as the wood slowly is transformed, revealing the beauty that at first was hidden from view, but soon boldly proclaims itself. The wood, the metals, the gold and chrome come together into something that is much greater than the sum of it's parts. I am proud of the end results.

I think most of us feel the same way about our businesses. Whether we run a large corporation, or a small one person shop, the creative urge still governs our activities. We've taken nothing, and created something we hope to be of lasting significance, something the world will find of value, something we can be proud of.

Sometimes, in the hectic daily grind of running things, we forget this side of our endeavors. We become so busy with the minutiae of what we do that we lose sight of the "big picture". We can't see the forest for the trees.

May I suggest something? Take a moment and try to get a view of your business from "on high". Look at the overall scope of what you've done, what you've accomplished. Yes, like one of my pens, there may be a need for a little reshaping here, some sanding or polishing there. But overall, does your business deliver what you intended it to? Is it something that brings you happiness, that you are PROUD of? If you answer these questions "Yes!", you've succeeded. Take a little time to savor that success, to enjoy your own acknowledgment of your accomplishments.

Now get back to work! You've seen the big, beautiful vision, and some things you'd like to change. I believe that you'll now find a renewed excitement, a fresh feeling that may have been lost before as you were mired down in the trenches of daily details. I suggest you practice this little exercise on a regular basis, maybe monthly. You'll be pleased, just as I am each time I put a fresh piece of wood on the lathe,and start a new turning project. Each new start, each reviewing of the grand picture, brings renewed creativity and excitement!

Keep turning to success!

Of Fountain Pens and Hard Drives

I've recently given in to an old collecting urge and
acquired several fountain pens. Yes, the old fashioned kind
that sometimes leak or skip. The kind of pen where you have
to be sure the ink is dry before touching the page, or it
might smear. I'm writing this piece with one right now, a
pretty red-and-tan marbled pen with shiny gold trim.
There's something about the elegant style of these pens that
I find most appealing. There is a nostalgic romance to
writing with such an instrument. There's a beauty to the
colorful body, the way the light gleams from the golden nib
as it glides across the page, that I find captivating. I
can almost see the flow of the ink, pouring from the
delicate point to lie in not-so-smooth ribbons of words on
the surface of the page.

When I'm done writing, I will enter the words into my
computer, where they will become bits and bytes of data
stored electronically on my hard drive. There are many
advantages to having my thoughts stored in this electronic
format, not the least of which being that it is much easier
for you to read than to try and decipher the scrawl my
handwriting. But beyond that, with the push of a few
buttons, I can send these words speeding across my modem
link to destinations across the street, across the river, or
around the world. My words have taken a journey from the
recesses of my mind, through the point of the fountain pen,
a quick twirl around the spinning platter of the hard drive,
to become electrons rocketing around the world at
unbelievable speeds. What a tremendous opportunity this
brings to each of us!

Because of the power of computers and the Internet, my
words, YOUR words,can reach literally millions at the touch
of the send key. This is a power, a privilege unknown to
those that have come before us. I sometimes wonder what one
of my literary heroes, Samuel Clemons, better known as Mark
Twain, would have thought of the Internet and the World Wide
Web. I think he would have seen this vision, grasped the
idea that here was something that could reach out and
radically change the lives of the earth's entire population.
Something as new and bright as the morning sun. Something
that needed some old fashioned qualities to polish it to a
shining lustre. I think he would have managed to meld the
old world with the new.

The old fashioned qualities, like honesty, integrity, value,
and service are still necessary ingredients for our success
online, just as they have always been necessary for success.
In the new world of websites and e-commerce, our clients and
customers, though sometimes beguiled and awed by the glitz
and dazzle of a slick multimedia presentation, still hear
that inner voice that asks, "Is this sincere? Is this of
value? Is this TRUE?". For our enduring success, as has
always been the case, we must answer those questions with a
resounding "YES!", and then back our answer up with our
deeds and actions. Whether our product is a tangible item,
a service, or even the words written on a page or displayed
on a monitor, it must be of value, of quality, of worth.
This is the foundation we must lay to build our success in
the world of fountain pens and hard drives.