Last week at work I was working on updating a project, one that I do every month. The format is always the same and every month I just have to go in and update the data to the current month’s information. The easiest way for me to do this is to print out the document and manually edit (with an actual pen) the data with the new information.
Well, as I was working on my task, I realized that my work kind of reminded me of being in school when the teacher would grade a paper and make edits in a red pen. That brought a smile to my face and as I started looking at my work I then was reminded of the Red Flair Markers that teachers often would use. They came in other colors, too, but the teachers liked the red ones for correcting papers.
As I took a minute to reminisce, I was then reminded of my Uncle Phil, who also liked to use these when writing when we were growing up. I can remember them being on his counters and dressers at his house; I can see his neat script on letters or cards to us and I can remember always wanting these to use as a kid, thinking they were something special because when you wrote with them your writing was different from just plain old pens and pencils.
But, they were not as cheap as regular old pens and pencils, so not always something that we had around to use. And if you left the cap off or forgot to put it on tightly they would dry out. And when you are young that is an easy thing to do and then you get fussed at for wasting the pen and the lecture on having to wait until you are more responsible before you get any more.
Well, then I looked at what I was using to write with…yup, my favorite utensil of choice…a Sharpie Fine Tip Marker! These were not around when I was growing up. Back then, Sharpies were all big and fat and they were used to mark your name in your gym suit so no one else would take yours by mistake.
And, they only came in black. Well now they come in a rainbow of colors and different sizes. I just love the way they feel when I write with them and I love the fact that they don’t smear all over my hand as I write across the page. That day I was using a hot pink one to make my edits on my work and liked how they stood out against the black print on the page so it would be easy for me to update my work on the computer once I was ready.
Of course, I also thought my handwriting looked cool in the hot pink marker color on my page and I remembered again how I always thought my Uncle Phil’s handwriting looked so neat with his Flair Pen. And then I found out that both are made by the same company – Sanford….so, I realized the connection. How cool is that! That must secretly be why I am drawn to my Sharpies…deep down they remind me of my Uncle Phil and how I admired his handwriting…and I still think they make my writing look pretty awesome.
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