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Perhaps it was inevitable. Both my mother and grandmother are/were not merely fountain-pen users but also fanciers. I guess it's a genetic trait, and I therefore cannot be held accountable for accumulating lovely and functional dispensers of ink. I read about the FPN on one of the Discussion lists for the annual Month of Letters (http://lettermo.com) challenge. It's taken me a while to join for reasons I can't explain — I couldnt get the sign-up form to work until recently — but I'm happy to have finally figured out how to open the gate. Below is the old Sheaffer I used to write all my undergraduate papers. Eventually I graduated from college and to other pens, but none have I ever loved more than this first one. And here, from left to right, are some of my other pens: First, an old, cheap, plastic A&W Sizzlestix whose provenance I do not recall even vaguely but which still works unfailingly. Next, two Schaeffers nicer than the one I used in college, also many years' writing companions.The black pen is a Platinum with a music nib, just in case someday I am struck by Euterpe and need to start writing orchestral scores of Gregorian chants. The red Romea and Juliet pen (a gift from my mother) has a fusion nib. The top unscrews to reveal a pair of hearts. I keep meaning to replace them with an emergency anti-histamine — not as romantic, but for my purposes, much more practical. Mom gave it to me to take to conferences on Medieval Literature. After the Pelikan are a Sailor, a Pilot Prera (one of my least favourite pens; it has an unresponsive, slightly scratchy nib), and a Lamy Vista. The Lamy works beautifully and I love the way I can change the nibs when I want a different line. The last pen is the newest. Its a TWISBI that fills from the inkwell on the far left. I haven't used it yet. Our local pen store has stopped carrying the TWSIBIs because they got so many complaints about how they wrote. Does anyone here use one and have any advice about how to get the best out of mine? Ruth