Hello from Texas!

[Gobblecup]

I am returning to the online FP community after almost 8 years of dropping off the map. Life got busy, and then about 6 years ago my precious collection of fountain pens was stolen by a “friend” who I had asked to watch them while I went out of town. This was an emotionally destructive episode, I lost so many one of a kind vintage pens, all of which had so much sentimental value. I was living in New York City at the time. Fast forward to now, I’ve been collecting fountain pens again for the past two years, and have a smaller and more modern collection of pens, afraid to venture back into vintage pens because of the earlier heartbreaks.

I have a stable of Lamy Safaris (4) and Al-Stars (2), an Aurora Optima Flex in Light Blue, my first FP which is a Pilot VP, an Omas Bologna in red resin, a Monthblanc 144, a Sailor 1911L in Royal Tangerine, a TWSBI Diamond 580AL, and a Pilot falcon. All of these are different nib sizes and styles.

Oh also, I’m about to start my freshman year of undergraduate school after several years of dealing with health issues (which are yet ongoing but I’ve learned to manage them better) and helping my mom through cancer treatments. I’m very excited to start studying with Biology as my major, the goal is to get a PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics one day.

I hope to get to know the members of this board and share my enthusiasm for all things fountain pen and writing!

[NibsForScript]

Welcome!

[jar]

Welcome home. Pull up a stump and set a spell.

[azkid]

That's a bit of a rough patch, sorry to hear. Welcome aboard.

[Wuddus]

Welcome. Good to hear you're getting back on top of things.

[gbryal]

Howdy

[Anne]

Welcome - I am glad that you are in better health and back into pens Please don't hesitate getting back into the vintage arena.

[Gobblecup]

All I need a little push and the right opportunities at some beautiful vintage pens and I’m sure I’ll drift back into that arena again!

[azkid]

We're here to enabl-- I mean help. We're here to help.

[Wahl]

[Triaed]

Welcome to the forum. That is a nice collection... I don't think it can be called a "starter"
I wish you and your mom the best!

[countrydirt]

Welcome! Good luck with your studies! Make sure and let us know what paper/ink/pen combos work for your notes.

[Gobblecup]

Welcome to the forum. That is a nice collection... I don't think it can be called a "starter"
I wish you and your mom the best!

Thank you for the good wishes, and you’re right, I’m just thinking back to the times when I had sized down my old collection to 30 pens! I have added a Sailor Pro Gear Slim to my stables after I made the introductory post here. But I don’t know if I’ll have 30 again anytime soon...

Welcome! Good luck with your studies! Make sure and let us know what paper/ink/pen combos work for your notes.

Thank you for the good wishes as well! I will make some sort of post about it after I get into it! However, right now my plan is to bring all my Safaris to class, a white one outfitted with a 1.9mm italic and yellow ink (De Atramentis Document Ink) for highlighting, the all black with black ink (Noodler’s Black Eel) and a Medium nib, the Petrol with teal leaning blue black ink (Noodler’s Aircorp Blue Black) and a Fine nib, and lastly my red safari with red ink (De Atramentis Document Ink) and a Fine nib. I figure these will hold up well to day to day use, but I might have to refill them often. So, I may get a Lamy 2000 before I start school, and possibly make that my daily notes pen replacing the petrol and all black safaris, but I’m weary of bringing a more expensive pen to school. Then again the petrol and all black Safaris are limited edition colors so maybe they deserve to stay home more than a 2000? My school colors are red, white and black, so everything but the petrol safari matches and displays not only my fountain pen addiction, but my school pride!

Edit: I forgot to mention I also recently got a 5th Lamy Safari, a dark lilac but I doubt I’ll take it to class as I paid $50 for it and don’t want it to get too worn out!

[VertOlive]

Welcome from the Texas Panhandle. You sound well equipped for years of note taking!