Shinybass journal entry 05-14-25

The other day I was pulling out of a parking lot and happened to glance down at the pavement. Sitting next the road was the most dangerous object one could imagine, just laying there, glinting in the soft afternoon sun. This powerful item could send someone to the moon or jail, solidify a plan or design the next big thing. It could also bring forth words that would make grown men cry. The object? A pen. 

‘The power of the pen’ is still a very real idea. Think of all that can be achieved with this little guy. (Or girl, I suppose, I’ve never looked). Imagine how a letter to a friend feels to not only write but receive? I mean, getting those thoughts and sentiments on real paper? Or the power to spark political change or outcry with well-written lines? How cool would it be to have pen pals across vast oceans, easing the distances of the cities on our planet even closer together? 

I have a lot of pens. My biggest pet peeve is a pen that does’t write the first time. I know that’s asking a lot, and the pen needs to ‘warm up’ a bit, but when the mood strikes, I want to pick up the pen and have it perform. I have been gifted a couple of beautiful pens; nothing crazy expensive or anything, but ones that were hand carved, and they write beautifully every time. Let me amend that; they perform beautifully every time. The words I write are not always beautiful. Not that my words are hateful, but my penmanship is best described as ‘scribble scrabble’. 

We hit the digital age some time ago, Lots of our ‘ideas’ are brought forth via a digital medium; Movies, music, architecture, heck, even this little journal entry was tapped out via 0s and 1s. I certainly could mail you each a copy, but no one wants that kind of commitment. No, no, just read this when you want. It will always be here. Once online, it’s here forever.

Songwriting sessions are digital heavy as well. It’s all laptops these days. I understand it is much simpler to change and move lyrics around on a laptop, but there is nothing more powerful (to me at least) with that powerful opening line or title scrawled at the top of the page. Or the list of alternate rhymes tucked into a margin. No need to stop and type. Plus, what if the song goes #1? Wouldn’t it be great to have the original working manuscript? You can’t hang an iPad in a frame with your edits. I’m just saying…

I’m in the middle of a reading a great biography about Benjamin Franklin, and that gentleman knew the power of the pen. Or quill, I suppose, but he put his ideas in motion, and knew the power of a letter in hand, especially from someone else. Back in his time, letters of intent were worth their weight in gold. Letters subtly (or not so subtly) nudging change helped shape a new country. 

In the same ‘analog’ vein, I have been fascinated by vintage typewriters my whole life. I love the feel of the keys being pressed into paper to get all the ideas out of the vortex and into reality. I have this fantasy of getting a 100-year old typewriter and just randomly writing friends short notes. The original text, right? I KNOW I don’t need one, but look out if I have the opportunity for the right one. Maybe I’ll start a ‘Typed Poem of the Month’ club or something. Who’s in? 

Few things are more encouraging and scary as a blank sheet and a pen. With a pen, however, there is something amazing lurking a few simple characters away – hope. For anything. Sketch out what the living room would look like if you rearranged the furniture. Write down the names of 3 friends and give them a call. Put a note on the fridge that says ‘You are loved’. Then write your college and finally pay your parking tickets. Eh, on second thought…

By itself that pen is worthless. Give it an idea, and that pen can literally move mountains. Go move some mountains.