MY STEP-FATHER, TOM, IN A MOMENT OF SPONTANEOUS GENEROSITY.......

                   GAVE ME ONE OF HIS MANY SHEAFFER SNORKEL PENS AND A BOTTLE OF PERMANENT INDIA INK.  (SOURCING FOR MY FIRST SPILLED 'INK BLOT' CREATIONS, INCIDENTALLY)   I WAS, ALREADY,  A 'SCRIPTO' MECHANICAL PENCIL-USING LAD WHO HAD JUST BEGUN TO UTILIZE AN EARLIER GIFT...MY WATERMAN PEN THAT HAD REPLACED AN EVEN EARLIER PEN WITH A CRACKED & LEAKING GLASS INK CARTRIDGE.....AFTER I COMPLAINED ABOUT THOSE 'BALL POINT' PENS' BALLS GETTING CLOGGED WITH THE THICK INK, REQUIRING A LIT MATCH AND A DUNKING IN  WATER/ALCOHOL   TO GET THEM FLOWING ONCE MORE.....FRUSTRATINGLY, I KEPT ANOTHER ANTIQUE GLASS  'INKWELL' OF WARM WATER TO UNCLOG THE NEWER WRITING DEVICE.....TODAY, I MUST HAVE AT LEAST 50 DIFFERING INK DELIVERY INSTRUMENTS, INCLUDING ROLLER BALLS, FELT TIPS, QUILL PENS WITH VARIOUS METAL TIPS.....BUT, AS MUCH AS I ENJOY CALLIGRAPHIC "WRITING"....HERE, I SIT, TYPING ON AN ELECTRONIC KEYBOARD!