life of uncertainty

From the moment I opened the package I was disappointed. What I would have thought was the writing tip is actually the other end. Looking at it now I realize clearly that the "whale's tale" is the little clip for attaching to your pocket protector (oh wait, who uses those anyway?) For attaching to your notebook?

I set out to use my pen and enjoy it, all else aside and I did for quite some time. As will often happen with pens, the ink eventually ran out. I was so proud of myself that I could continue to use my pen as I had purchased those refills.

At this point Pen and Refills chased each other constantly, they could never quite seem to end up in the same room with one another. Pen spent quite some time being lost, in the couch, my brother's car (which I borrowed for quite some time), stowed away in my desk. At some point I was positive that either Pen or Refills were just gone but then one would show up and the search would be on for the other half.

I bought this pen while living in a small one bedroom apartment with Scott and way too much of our stuff. Along comes Elijah... We move to a nice big house with a garage and a basement so I never did much sorting of stuff. Nine months ago, when I moved from the large house to a smaller 2-bedroom apartment I took time to go through my belongings and pare down. I recycled ridiculous amount of bank statement and pay stubs. I tossed college assignments that I saved for when I wanted to reference them (yeah,like that was ever going to happen) A lost fortune was found!

Wonderful Pen, much more wonderful in my memories however, AND Refills! I was actually very pleased to see that after several years I finally was able to reunite Optima Signature Pen with black Refill.

How does this story end I am sure you are wondering? I needed a pen this fine morning and while digging through my pencil pouch I see the two which I had stored away together. I tear open the refills, remove the pen cover, unscrew the gold base, remove the spring, pull out the original cartridge, replace the refill while noticing it is much slimmer... I chalk the difference up to one being a refill and attempt to place the spring in place, it doesn't fit. I re-examine, no go, maybe the spring doesn't go with a refill. I attempt to screw the gold base back on... OH MY GOD! There is a good half an inch before that base would reach its threads. I have the GOD DAMN wrong refills for a pen that is at least 4 years old. A pen that I remember like an old acquaintance. A pen that dispite everything else I love.
THE END