Paul F. Olson

A Journal of Miscellany and Disorder

To counter the notion I’ve cultivated recently, the idea that I’m a total technonerd or that all of my writing and productivity tools reside on my computer hard drive, I’m proud to present these pictures of my newest babies, which just arrived yesterday:

Rotring Core Technor

Monteverde Charisma

Quite a difference between the two: the sass and the class. But like every parent, I try to love my children equally.

Already, at least one of these wonderful pens has a story clamoring to get out. When I pick it up, I can almost feel it trembling in my hands, eager to tell the tale. (Hint: it might not be the one you think.)

… or rather, there are too many of them.

I could fill a dozen blog posts and still not come close to describing the things I’m feeling right now, just a scant 24 hours before my daughters walk across the stage to get their high school diplomas.

Rather than blather on endlessly and unsuccessfully, I’ll say it as simply as I can:

Congratulations, girls. I love you.

It seems like forever since my daughters, Ingrid and Amanda, started the college application process.

After quickly being accepted at four perfectly fine “second choices,” they waited and waited and waited, and waited and waited, and waited some more, and waited a little bit longer, and waited another little bit after that to hear from their top choice, the school they’ve always wanted to attend.

Yesterday, they got the word.

They’re official members of the Class of 2011 at the University of Michigan.

Congratulations, girls!

P.S. You can breathe again now.