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A perfect day for his nibs....
Published: 11/2/2012 3:03 PM
Last Modified: 11/2/2012 3:03 PM

A pair of Parkers

I think there’s hardly a day on the calendar that hasn’t been selected as the “National Something Day.” People have declared holidays to the commemoration of the joys of cooking and eating bacon, of talking like a pirate, or eating cupcakes, or sitting in mud and saying “Bibble,” or whatever.

Which brings us to what this day, Nov. 2, has recently been chosen to honor.

Fountain pens.

If you’ve never heard of International Fountain Pen Day, don’t be too surprised. This is the first year it’s been declared – by a collection of businesses whose livelihood derives from the selling and servicing of fountain pens (including a Stillwater company called Classic Nib).

As for myself, well, pretty much every day is Fountain Pen Day. I’ve been using fountain pens more or less exclusively for about 30 years, ever since my then-girlfriend (who is my now-wife) presented me with a Cross fountain pen in honor of my getting a job that paid enough to allow us to get married.

I still have that pen. And – ahem – a few others.

Such as the two I have with me today. They are about 20 years old, both made by Parker. Which always reminds me of a line from the British situation comedy “Are You Being Served?”, in which one character’s ethical standards are called into question because “he has TWO Parker pens!”

If that’s the way these things are judged, then I may very well be a reprobate of the first order.

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dean (4 months ago)

Hans Werner-Henze died. But you write this.

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ARTS

James D. Watts Jr. has lived in Oklahoma for most his life, even though he still has people saying to him, "Don't sound like you're from around these parts." A University of Oklahoma Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Watts has received the Governor Arts Award, Harwelden Award and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Beth Macklin Award for his writing. Before coming to the Tulsa World, Watts worked for the Tulsa Tribune.

Contact him at (918) 581-8478.

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Past Articles By James D. Watts Jr

2/15/2013		'Concept/OK' exhibit ends Saturday
2/14/2013		Symphony to host piano soloist
2/14/2013		Broadway tours bring 'Shrek,' improv musical to Tulsa area this weekend
2/14/2013		Arts roundup: Improv reigns at several upcoming theater events
2/14/2013		'Lion King' returns to Tulsa PAC June 4
2/12/2013		Review: Signature Symphony reprises '100 Years of Oklahoma Music'
2/11/2013		Tulsa Symphony's concert salutes diverse American music
2/10/2013		Cherokee artist weaves messages into baskets
2/10/2013		Tesla Quartet set for Tulsa residency next week with variety of activities
2/10/2013		Jim Murphy wins 2013 Anne Zarrow Award
2/10/2013		LBJ chronicler Robert Caro to speak at TU on Tuesday
2/9/2013		Theater review: Playhouse makes "Barefoot in the Park" believable

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