It’s funny to me, and probably to her as well, but my friend April developed a cult-like following after this post. I would be remiss if I never talked about her again, especially in the context of another special part of our lives that she and I share: We love school supplies. In fact, if you want to make either of us happy, give us a good pen. There was a trivia night that the host brought a pen and we each took turns that night writing with the pen and determining that yes, it was a good pen and that perhaps we should decide who was taking home the pen that night. Relax, we leave pens sometimes, too, but that? That was a good pen. It was only a stick pen, but it’s what’s inside that counts.

I’m a pen-junkie. There is no way around it and there is no other word for it. Pen-aholic? Regardless, I love a good pen. My friends good-naturedly rib me about hoarding the good pens and being finicky about having them returned to me when I’ve lent them out to others. To say a good pen is important to me is like saying cheese is important to a hamburger. I can already describe to you what my ideal pen is like: medium heavy, slightly curved, ball-point (ALWAYS), with a fine/medium tip and never smudges. If it’s pretty, that’s a bonus, but it’s got to write well or all the prettiness in the world doesn’t save the pen from being half-heartedly given away with the wish it was better.

When I pulled the Cross pen out of it’s beautiful brown box my immediate thought was “this one is going to be too heavy.” As I looked at it, I was confused. I tried to click it. It’s not a clicky-pen. I tried to roll the bottom. It’s not a rollie-pen. No, the Cross Edge in Titanium is a sheath of a pen that pulls out. Like a light saber. It even has some neat decorations at the top that make it look like a sophisticated light saber and I felt powerful just opening it.

I started humming the Star Wars theme and looked at the specs. Oh dear. It’s a black gel pen (refills come in several colors) and a roller ball. Now, we know how I feel about both of these and they don’t fall under ideal, but the pen glides when I write with it, it doesn’t smudge, it doesn’t stick and it’s not too heavy. Also, when I’m talking with a client, I can quietly close my light saber, I mean my pen, without attracting too much notice, to avoid getting pen marks on my hand while I softly roll it from side to side. Yesterday, I thought I’d misplaced the pen and I went into a panic.

In three days time this pen has become indispensable to me. Sheer perfection, Cross. Well-done. I want more, which is greedy considering I got this one for free because I’m a Bzzagent and am reviewing it. Father’s Day is coming and…well, do you really need an excuse to buy pens? I know I don’t and neither does April. I’d buy her one, but then I’d just take it from her. I love her, but a good writing pen is worth gold in these parts.

If you’d like one, since I’m a Bzzagent, Cross has a great deal where they will give you guys a special offer if you type the code SHOPCROSS into the promotional box when checking out of their online site. You get 20% off as well as free shipping, which is super nice. Pens for everyone! Spread the word.