Dear Readers,

If anyone noticed, I was away for a few days. I visited my family in Yokohama. My parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this week. A very nice event for them and I was proud to attend. It seems that many of my friends' parents have either divorced or are separated. I find this very sad.

Can you guess what I gave them as a present? Fountain Pens of course. Two lovely Kamakura Pens Limited Edition maki-e pens. This was an important moment for me. My parents were not happy when I told them I found employment with a company that sold pens. I can understand why it was difficult for them to understand.

When they saw these pens they started to understand what I am trying to do. I showed my parents how to fill and write with the pens, and they were pleased. Hitomi, my sister, was jealous. I told her that if she can keep a boyfriend for more than three months then I will give her a pen too. I am confident that Hitomi will never receive a pen.

I used my new notebook computer to show the Kamakura Pens web site to my family. I think they were impressed. Perhaps they were most impressed with the prices on some of the Maki-e pens. I think that they were also pleased to see this journal of mine.

At work today. Ron-san recently found a 1968 book about pens. The title is "The Mannenhitsu." In Japanese language "Mannrnhitsu" means "Fountain Pen." This was written by Umeda Haruo and was a collection of articles that he had published earlier in a Japanese penmanship magazine. One interesting point in this book. Umeda-san predicted in 1966 that someday maki-e pens and the Pilot Capless would become very valuable pens. It looks as if he was right.

Sincerely

Meg