Gel Pens by the Story Teller

April 24, 2017,  Gel Pens

I am in the first grade with my first official box of crayons. 8 assorted colors in their yellow box with green letters. Kindergarteners had crayons but not the kind the older kids used. They were the big round ones that you could wrap your whole fist around. My new ones were finger sized. With these I could almost stay inside the lines. When I realized some kids had the 16 colors, two row box, my lust for the bigger sets was born.

By the third grade the 48 colors set was out, yet I languished with a lowly two row 16s. By fifth grade the 48 colors even had a crayon sharpener in the box. While some of my classmate lucked out, I had given up hope. Better to pretend it didn’t matter and turn to pencils for my artistic creations than face deep frustration. My lust for the bigger sets had not disappeared, but reality said "no hope – time to move on".

As life would have it, ultimately I had first graders of my own needing crayons for school. By now the 64 colors box existed, and I was ready to spring for it. Reading the first grade teacher school supply list took my breath away. What does "8 colors only" mean, when there is a 64 available? That year two boxes of crayons came home with me - an 8 and a 64. The 8 went to school and the 64 stayed at home.

I remember using the 64 set once. It didn’t have quite the same feel. Over the years our children used them up, but my youthful lust for crayons never returned. Once a dream is fulfilled it is time to let another dream take its place – enter the fine point gel pen.

Moral – There is no such thing as reasonable lust.