Mr. Pen is a character (I hesitate to use the word cartoon) who came to life way back in the 1990s. It seems that while I was doodling with one of my fountain pens he suddenly appeared, out of the blue, onto a blank page in my journal. For a while, it was just him, me, and the journal. However, having a mind of his own, Mr. Pen started showing up at book signings and he later found his way into Erano’s Quarterly Pen Review (EQPR). He is currently a regular in Paul’s Fountain Pen Journal (FPJ) where he offers his opinions, insights, and observations.

At some point, it became obvious to me that a Mr. Pen the Bobblehead was in order. It was a bad idea from the start, but I just couldn’t shake the thought of it. Every time I thought of him standing on my desk, looking at me and bobbling a bit, I laughed. It took well over a decade for Mr. Pen the Bobblehead to become a reality, and now that he’s here I really don’t know what more I can say. I suppose it’s still a bad idea, but it’s something I had to do and I’m glad that I saw it all the way through.

Mr. Pen and I have become close over the years. When he bobbles, I still laugh and I can’t help feeling that I’m laughing at myself as well. I know now that Mr. Pen had a few things to tell me when he first appeared on that blank journal page all those years ago. Now, almost three decades later, I think I understand. “Don’t take things too seriously,” he wanted to say. “If you get an idea, see it all the way through.” And finally, as I watch him bobble a bit, “don’t be afraid to laugh a little at yourself.”

Mr. Pen the Bobblehead is available for $25.00 plus $4.95 shipping while supplies last. See the ad for details.

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