A Homo Sapien Experience

[youstruckgold]

Yesterday my 7 year old daughter and I were in Florence and chose to drop in to the Visconti shop. There we were met by a lovely older gentlmen with limited English who helped us look at the Visconti's - all beautifully laid out and impressive as would be expected. As Visconti is a Florentine brand, we thought (OK, I thought) this would be a good idea.

 

My daughter unfortunately, has an eye for pens. And her eye was for the Homo Sapien - a touch big (and expensive) you would think for a 7 year old.

 

From there it was serious negotiation. She really wanted it. It's too big. No bigger than my Delta (we bought her a Delta in Ivory acrylic earlier on the trip). It's too expensive. But you buy expensive pens for yourself. But I earn the money. I can too. OK, how about I buy it for myself (yes, I'm crumbling at this point) and you can have it when you turn 15 (TEARS).

 

Poor Mr Visconti (foolishly I didn't get his name) is very concerned about my daughter. She sounds here like a spoilt brat (a little spoilt yes, but not a brat and much more subtle). He tries to show her it's too big for her - but she then demonstrates perfect writing balance and pressure. He tries to show her reasonable alternatives, she rejects them (she has seen the HS elsewhere and still likes it). Finally, he reduces the price; I compromise and say it's mine until she's 9 - deal.

 

Deal done, Mr Visconti is so releaved for all of us that he closes his shop, takes us down the street and buys my daughter an ice cream and me an espresso. He explains he is a grandfather, but has never seen a child so want a fountain pen. Post coffee and ice cream, we return to the shop, meet his wife who has arrived with a little shopping and is regaled by her husband with the story.

 

This is why we take holidays: for the experiences that take us to places and people we may not see day-to-day.

 

We will be writing to Mr Visconti - with our Homo Sapien - to thank him again for his patience, style and generosity. The pen is indeed well named. Mr Visconti was a warm and gentle human being.

[Defacto]

You did write in his guest book didn't you?

 

Been there had a same welcome and went out with two Visconti's and a place to get back to whenever I get back there!

I forgot his name as well but he knows what's talking about and he loves his job even more!!

He wasn't bothered at our holiday pants and backpack, no presumptions, just a warm welcome a tour through the shop before you are even allowed to think about buying one.

Just hopitality, doing the best he could in English and we had a wonderful afternoon as well.

 

Congrats on the HS. I'm wanting one as well, but unfortunatly I'm not going to Florence this year so I'll be thinking about it in my local penshop. :puddle:

 

Your daughter isn't a brat, she's got good taste. You have to be very careful with that!

Is she a member here? :roflmho:

[mdoering]

What a great story :-) Those are the kinds of things one remembers forever.

 

By the way, awesome job on using your 7 year old as an excuse to get a Visconti HS for a few years... When my 3 year old is old enough I'll have to try that routine with the Mrs.... :ltcapd: "Honey, he fell in love with the Montblanc Charlie Chaplin... What was I supposed to do? Crush the poor kids dreams? I'll just use it for a few years until he's old enough..."

[clickiechick]

I feel like total garbage now for putting off my 8 year old's request for a cheap Pilot Petit. Maybe it's because he keeps asking me if fountain pens can "squirt ink."

 

Not quite the level of sophistication shown by your girl, obviously.

[farmersmums]

What a neat experience! I too am very impressed by your creative acquisition of a very nice pen- the way you describe your daughter it doesn't even seem like MUCH of an excuse. Fountain pens are all about creating memories, and I'd say this Visconti helped you make a very fine one.

Edited September 24, 2010 by farmersmums

[mana]

Thank you for the wonderful story, it made me smile! I think I just found a place to visit one of these days...

 

Your daughter didn't sound like a brat but instead she showed character. Fine tuning that strong will will come with age, of that I am sure. So I wish all the best to you, your daughter and the rest of your family.

[mana]

I just had a look up the pen in question. Wow! Nice! Now I want one! Excellent taste your daughter has...

[karmakoda]

Just to say I really enjoyed your story. The pen is beautiful and will be an inspiration to a girl who sounds quite exceptional. Best gift of all is the support and appreciation of writing with a fine fountain pen. She's a lucky girl and you're a lucky Dad.

PS: My son, 18, has nice pens and a similar appreciation. It's something we share.

Cheers

Greg

[Alphabet]

Touching story! I love my HS and know it will be a perfect fit for that tiny hand that shows so much charisma. BTW...don't take her to the Montblanc Boutique.

Edited September 24, 2010 by Alphabet

[Parse Error]

So close... to actually getting a HS.

I'm 15 and in high school. My dad likes pens but would not buy pens anywhere other than Office Depot and Costco (last time that I told him about something at Costco, he got me pizza instead of even taking a look at the pen. At least the pizza's good and goes well with a slushy.) because of credit card reasons. Now, I'm trolling ebay and FPN for getting it.

[WendyNC]

Great story. Of course, now you'll have the pleasure on a regular basis of the countdown of days until she's nine and the HS is hers to use. (Yep, I was one of *those* children.)

[Ghost Plane]

Uh oh. That's how I started. Dad let me use his Shaeffer desk set and...uh...this is going to get expensive.

[Thornton]

Your daughter sounds like me as a child. I always gravitated towards expensive things I had no business using. I guess I still do. Anyway, very nice story about Mr. Visconti. I hope you and your daughter enjoy the pen.

[Deirdre]

Having met your daughter, I can totally see that exchange.

 

Edited to add: she'd better never see a Krone T-Rex. She likes dinosaurs too much!

Edited September 25, 2010 by Deirdre

[Chris Chalmers]

I've seen your daughter in action - and she is a real little charmer, nothing brat-like about her at all!!!! Great story YSG - can't wait to meet all the new pens one day! Have a Gelato for me please!

What nib does the new HS wear? Did you get any ink?

[youstruckgold]

She told me she wants to be a member here!

You did write in his guest book didn't you?

 

Been there had a same welcome and went out with two Visconti's and a place to get back to whenever I get back there!

I forgot his name as well but he knows what's talking about and he loves his job even more!!

He wasn't bothered at our holiday pants and backpack, no presumptions, just a warm welcome a tour through the shop before you are even allowed to think about buying one.

Just hopitality, doing the best he could in English and we had a wonderful afternoon as well.

 

Congrats on the HS. I'm wanting one as well, but unfortunatly I'm not going to Florence this year so I'll be thinking about it in my local penshop. :puddle:

 

Your daughter isn't a brat, she's got good taste. You have to be very careful with that!

Is she a member here? :roflmho:

[youstruckgold]

I've seen your daughter in action - and she is a real little charmer, nothing brat-like about her at all!!!! Great story YSG - can't wait to meet all the new pens one day! Have a Gelato for me please!

What nib does the new HS wear? Did you get any ink?

 

Hi Chris,

 

The nib is fine, and she liked the Visconti Green.

 

Not having a gelato for you; we've had too many for ourselves already!!!

 

[diplomat]

Great. I don't know if you are a writer but you should try. Ms. Kinsella wouldn't have done a better job!

 

And +100 points to Mr.Visconti (not Dante Del Vecchio, right?).

 

Ciao,

[Defacto]

She told me she wants to be a member here!

You did write in his guest book didn't you?

 

Been there had a same welcome and went out with two Visconti's and a place to get back to whenever I get back there!

I forgot his name as well but he knows what's talking about and he loves his job even more!!

He wasn't bothered at our holiday pants and backpack, no presumptions, just a warm welcome a tour through the shop before you are even allowed to think about buying one.

Just hopitality, doing the best he could in English and we had a wonderful afternoon as well.

 

Congrats on the HS. I'm wanting one as well, but unfortunatly I'm not going to Florence this year so I'll be thinking about it in my local penshop. :puddle:

 

Your daughter isn't a brat, she's got good taste. You have to be very careful with that!

Is she a member here? :roflmho:

 

:ltcapd:

 

She really has good taste and and a wonderful character

[jar]

She told me she wants to be a member here!

 

 

I'm sure there are many here that would be willing to mentor her, expand her horizons into all the fabulous marques out there.

 

We can teach her history and how many pens commemorate events...

 

http://www.fototime.com/83F787A4BA06954/standard.jpg

 

http://www.fototime.com/CA6F239238EDF31/standard.jpg

 

to appreciate simple beauty...

 

http://www.fototime.com/2DF6F265643A967/standard.jpg

 

http://www.fototime.com/3C60556BDABD4CF/standard.jpg

 

and mythology...

 

http://www.fototime.com/7FE82A7FF37AAB3/standard.jpg

 

The folk here at FPN can be very enabling to a young mind.