For kids of my generation in Germany (born 1966) fountain pens were mandatory, pencils and ballpoint pens were not acceptable for schoolwork. This was a mixed b

For kids of my generation in Germany (born 1966) fountain pens were mandatory, pencils and ballpoint pens were not acceptable for schoolwork. This was a mixed blessing, while it was nice to write with a fountain pen they didn't really stand up to abuse from elementary school age kids. Also, having a "Tintenkiller" (ink eraser) that still worked was a constant struggle. There were two tribes at that time: Geha and Pelikan with incompatible cartridges. Obviously and senselessly you'd fight for your tribe. Later in life I had the Lamy the author describes but I didn't love it, somehow it was less reliable than the chunky kids models. In retrospect I have a vague nostalgia for fountain pens but zero desire to go back and use them for anything other than ceremonial purposes.