PLGRM

One of the joys of my life is stationery.

(Before you ask either me or Google: Yes, I spelled it correctly.)

I don’t know why or when it started, but I’ve always loved “Back to School” sales. I’m not alone in this. Many of us enjoy walking the aisles of Target and taking a look at the erasures and pen cases, the spiral notebooks and college ruled composition notebooks.

I’ve spent not-insignificant money on pens and pencils in the past. When I was a young pastor and felt like celebrating a momentous occasion, I plunked down Seventy-Five Whole Dollars on a hefty Cross rollerball. I loved that pen and used it for a number of years.

But last Summer, I messaged my friend Chad and said, “Okay, tell me what I need to know about fountain pens.” Being the stationery nerd he is (He has an instagram account dedicated to his love) he did not disappoint, and his first recommendation for me to buy is the pen we pen nerds recommend to all newbies: The Pilot Metropolitan

The Metro is not a perfect pen, but it is the perfect first pen. It’s a Goldilocks. If you can hang with it, then you will like fountain pens.

I have found I like pens a bit bigger than the Metro, but it is an easy, all-day writer. Ink cartridges are in abundant supply in the world, so pick a color you like and go for it.

(No need to be scared of the ink spilling or splattering. Honestly, I’ve had fewer ink issues with my fountain pens than my rollerballs and cheap gels.)

If you’re at all curious, I encourage you to get a Metro. Specifically, I recommend buying from the Goulet Pen Company (they are one of the best). This may be the best $25 you spend this year.