The Chicago Pen Show is a wrap for another year but the memories will live on for a very long time. The show was four days of intense collecting, trading and being with some of the greatest individuals on the planet. Sailor and Conway Stewart stole the show with their fantastic display and tremendous people. It was unfortunate Mr. Nagahara was unable to attend, but well wishers were able to send him personal greetings via digital movie and special stationary.

While there were the usual high quality new pen dealers like The Great Parker, Total Office Supply, Penstop and Bittner, to name a few, vintage pens ruled the show for this observer (possibly because that was what I was hunting). The crop of high quality vintage writing instruments this year was incredible. My “budget” was nearly blown by the end of trading Friday! Bernie Isaacowitz of Berliner Pen was one of my heroes at the show for helping me expand my Waterman collection with two wonderful 552 1/2 pens, one with clip and one without, as well as a beautiful 452 hand engraved vine. His selection of great pens was so good I could have easily dropped my entire wad right there, but Bernie worked hard to keep me focused. Thanks Bernie, I owe you some more jelly beans!!

As always, Roger Cromwell of Penopoly set up shop to do his dazzling pen repairs on the spot. This year Roger was joined by his partner Victor Chen who worked some amazing feats on a couple of troublesome nibs of yours truly. What this dynamic duo can do to restore a pen is almost beyond words. Victor proudly showed off a red 100 year Waterman he restored from near death to breathtaking brand new condition. This service is going to be a winner very quickly!

But of course, these guys don’t just work on pens. With Rogers status as a pen magnet he also has hundreds and hundreds for sale. Among the pen purchases I made from Bob Leeds working the pen cases for Roger was a Montblanc 146 with the sweetest Mottishawed nib they acquired in a trade. And naturally, his pen magnet status was once again realized when at the end of the weekend he showed off several Parker 51 demonstrator prototypes that just Ocame to him’ from someone walking in off the street. Way to go Roger! No show would be complete without Susan Wirth and her staff. These folks have patience beyond belief to make absolutely certain the pen and nib you select fits you one hundred percent. Maureen, my significant other, found a stub nib perfect for her left handed writing style after Susan brought out dozens of pens for her to try and compare.

But the backbone of the show for me is meeting all the wonderful people in our community. Seeing everyone at pen shows is like attending a big family reunion. Tom Zoss, Lisa Hanes, Ann Marie, David Iaacson, Sam and Frank Fiorella, Andy Lambrou, Mary Burke, Todd and Don Fry along with everyone previous mentioned, as well as those unmentioned, all make these shows what they are -- glorious events. However, without the tireless work of Don Lavin, L. Michael Flutz and Dan Zazove none of this could happen. Thanks guys, and in the words of my almost teenage daughter, you ROCK!