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Aloha everyone. Status: I have been corresponding for awhile now. Always responding fairly promptly when a letter is received. And, never missing a response. In this way, I figured the person who I'm writing to would be in their comfort zone as far as how often to write, if I only equally respond. And, I'd be always attentive to be sure to respond with a well composed missive, most often with enclosed pictures to share since I'm a photographer. I also pay attention to letter lengths. There's no sense in my responding to a single half page written on both size with 4 full size Rhodia sheets written on both sides. And VS VS. I figured, this way, the other person sets the pace of disclosure and all that, and I'm happy with that. Partial results: Some correspondents are very regular and steady. A few develop great exchanges. Others perhaps lose interest in writing or fountain pens or :"who knows" over time and fade away. And, others, after an initial letter exchange simply stop for some unknown reason. Question: However. I had a though that what if the other correspondent simply forgot to write and instead of a monthly exchange, 2-3 months go by. Should I write a short letter to keep up, or simple realize that the other person is no longer interested in writing or has the time, etc?' I'm very meticulous in keeping track of things. Perhaps others are not? Exception: I did have one person not write in nearly a year, then a letter appeared and it was nice. But, who knows if what used to be a regular monthly exchange will resume. Unknown? Exception: One person went through a bad health patch and was not in the mood to write for nearly a year.. Yet, perhaps a cheerful inquiry note in the mail from a corespondent would bring cheer. Who knows? One can only guess? And, not pry. You can't tell the difference between no longer wanting to write or no longer able to write, etc. Exception: sometimes, there is a certain relationship established, at least early stages, and there's familiarity. Being human nature, we are concerned when someone does not respond in turn. Yet, it would seem intrusive to send a letter after already sending one without a response 2 months later. Like being a "pest"? Or needy? Question to the forum: 1. What is the proper etiquette for letter exchanges? 2. Do you write only when written to? 3. Is the letter exchange 1 for 1, equally reciprocal? 4. Is it natural for correspondents to come and go and a few endure over time? (perhaps like real life?) 5. An experienced correspondent once told me that snail mail correspondence is like a "slow conversation". That was nice and I took it as good advice. 6. How do you do your letter exchanges? 7. What are your protocols? 8. Other tips and thoughts and your experiences. Thanks everyone for your help and advice Aloha jim

Aloha - What ink(s) have you been using recently, say, past few weeks or month? Not necessarily all-time favorites, but just whatever you have fired up recently and pen you selected. Maybe add why you selected it, and its attributes. Work? journal? letters? experimenting with new ink? testing repairs? testing nib? May be interesting to see a snapshot of what the members have been up to very recently - current events, folks? For starters, here's my most recent: (1) Aurora Blue, using in a recent home-rehab Parker 61 Flighter capillary, picked Aurora for easy cleanup. (2) Noodlers Black Swan in Australian Roses, using in a recently home-restored burgundy flexy Venus President, picked ink for matching color and shading, and (3) Noodlers Black Eel, selected for bulletproof qualities and formal color, in a newly acquired black 1948 Parker "51" vac with a gorgeous sterling cap (4) Edelstein Topaz, loaded into a huge Sterling Yafa with 14K Bock nib, equally large, trying to select an ink that will match up to the big wet elegant Bock nib. . Aloha -