Do you know where my pen is?

I work for an industry that has a “season”– that is to say, each year, it sort of starts all over, runs its course from start to finish, and then after a break for a month of two, the whole thing starts over. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years; despite the same holidays, events, and–in at least a few sad cases– staff, no two years have ever been the same.

But at the beginning of each year, I buy two new boxes of pens: Uniball VISION ELITE, 12 blue, 12 black. Not sure why I zeroed in on this brand, but I’ve just always liked them.

And each year, I vow that I will do a better job of keeping track of these pens– I won’t leave them around the office for others to steal, I’ll check my pockets before I head to my truck at the end of the day (lest they get left in there and eventually fall out somewhere,) I’ll use ’em until they run dry. Of course, this never happens… and by about Christmas, the two boxes of pens in my top desk drawer have about three left in each. Jebus alone knows where the pens have gone.

Invariably, I’ll see someone with one of my pens somewhere around the building… and I think to myself: “You thieving sonofabitch… I KNOW you stole that pen out of my office.” Although really, it’s just as likely they found it in the parking lot (after it, you know, fell out of my truck), or more likely they bought their own box of Uniball VISION ELITE pens, some of which they have lost. Maybe when they see me with one of those pens, they think the same thing about me.

I suppose this is today’s reflection for a couple of reasons: First, my secretary just left those two nice, fresh, new boxes of pens on my desk today. My standing Office Depot order must be in her August tickler file. But more importantly, I suppose it got me thinking about all of the things in my life that are so much more important than pens… things I also seem to misplace, or forget I should have somewhere safe, or that I don’t realize I’ve lost until it’s too late to start looking again.

Maybe someday, I’ll learn how to keep track of things better; maybe I’ll end the season with 2 boxes of 12 completely dried-out Uniball VISION ELITE pens. But considering how days turn to weeks turn to regrets about the people, places, and personal things I’ve lost over the years… I can’t imagine how that would happen.

Hey Pal, when you wake up, can you look around and see where my pen is?