A lavish gift is difficult to accept.
Maybe it’s the culture I live in. You have to earn it. You have to work hard. You have to measure up and finally, prove yourself in order to truly deserve what you get.
Maybe it’s our broken hearts. Arrogance wells up. False-humility comes forward. We say, “No, no, this is too much,” even though the gift may be exactly what we want or need. We look around for the strings attached, the reasons why, the payback angle.
But all of this is a profane insult to the gift giver.
It is spitting in her face.
A degradation of love and generosity.
The pen you see pictured above (bad pic, apologies) is a Mont Blanc Platinum Classique. It was made in Germany. It is one of the finest (in my opinion, the finest) writing instruments in the world.
It sits on the shelf with a price tag of $300.
I don’t need to tell you that I don’t, in any way, need this pen. But the want has been there for a very long time (I have a strong taste for the finer things).
It was given to me as a gift today. A group of friends pitched in and handed it over for my upcoming 35th birthday.
It’s a ridiculously extravagant gift.
One that I can never repay. One that I do not deserve. One that I can only just receive.
But this isn’t really about the pen (despite the title of this post). The important thing is always the giver. The love they express, the selfless thought that goes into it, and the sacrifice they make in giving.
So thanks, Ben, Berkeley, Brian, Eric, Jesse, Joel, John, Justin, Matthew, Michael, Pete and Tonya.
Thank you.
This pen won’t write better poems, but it’s sure going to feel better writing the poems with this pen.
PS. I’m notorious for losing pens. If you happen to find this one lying elegantly on some bar or cafe table in Portland (Individual No. ER2629549) please send it on in. If you decide not to return it, you’d better write some damn good poems with it.
15 responses so far ↓
1 sizzle | 25 Jul 2007
you are right about it being more about the giver than the gift. my friends all chipped in and surprised me with a computer once. i was speechless and profoundly moved by the wealth of their affection.
everyone can blame them for my blogging. heh.
happy birthday!
2 Rong | 26 Jul 2007
Robert, at first I thought this was a poem. Of course I also thought you were painting an analogy here of gifts undeserved and of the unfathomable love of the Giver.
Hey it’s still kewl. You’ve got some really neat friends to think of something this special, and happy birthday!!
35? you’re such a punk
3 Wadd | 26 Jul 2007
Did you ever think about the fact that maybe they were giving back to you for what you have given them? The gift of creativity, verse, and imagery that you give to all is what is truly extragavant.
If you DON’T continue write…then it would be “a degradation of love and generosity” as you put it.
So ya better keep going…that and attach it to your wrist with a chain.
Happy birthday friend.
-W
4 Brian Clark | 26 Jul 2007
35 huh? That’s an important one.
What else do you need (want)? :)
5 Mychele | 26 Jul 2007
35? Aren’t we supposed to know something by now? If you learn something…lemme know. Lord knows I need a lesson.
Happy Birthday, dork. It’s a very nice gift, but only a sample of what the world owes you for sharing your art. Mazel tov!
6 JC Stefano | 26 Jul 2007
Hey buddy,
Just want to wish you a wonderful Birthday!! Lets have a Mirror Pond tonight to celebrate your old age. Does everyone know you are 50 today? SHHH!! Keep it quiet! Talk later.
7 Sharon Sarmiento | 26 Jul 2007
What a wonderfully thoughtful gift. I can imagine that when your friends put the plan in action to get you the pen of your dreams, they probably felt really excited and happy to do something like that for you.
And I’m willing to bet that you do deserve it, even if you think you don’t. :-)
Happy Birthday, Robert.
8 Jecklin | 26 Jul 2007
haha…I love the p.s.
Happy Birthday.
9 TR Underwood | 26 Jul 2007
Happy Birthday my friend. You weren’t at work today so I have to bless you on your webpage.
What a kind and transparent thank you… Your friends will treasure it deeply.
It is truly such an honor to know you. You write beautifully and irreverantly at times, which suits my tastes perfectly. You care enough to smile so that I might smile too. And so my day is fuller. You don’t treat me like an imposition and so I feel genuinely cared for. And you are just as transparent in your speaking to me as in your writing to the masses. And, so it’s an honor. You are a rare person.
I sometimes stand amazed and silent and inconsolable in my gladness when I think upon all of you friends that God has set me among. And I’m deeply humbled…
Happy 35th!
10 Robert Bruce | 27 Jul 2007
Thanks all. Truly.
Didn’t intend this to be “birthday announcement”, but you guys are too gracious in your comments here.
I’m a fortunate (35 year old) man.
11 Randee | 27 Jul 2007
Sorry everyone, but I get the best gift of them all . . . for Robert is my brother.
And even though, I didn’t get you a pen Cronch, my gift to you is, well, that I’m your brother . . . is that good enough . . . it better be, that’s all you got me for my birthday.
Love you Bro, Happy Thirty and Five.
12 Megann | 28 Jul 2007
‘The pen is the tongue of the mind.’
-Miguel de Cervantes
Happy birthday, Robert.
13 Zero Anon | 29 Jul 2007
First, best of birthday wishes, even if belated. Second, I’m terribly jealous, I must try to make better friends. Third, thank you so much for your poetry. I found you through Will Brown’s Cloudy Day Art podcast, and I’ve been inspired by you since. I’ve just completed the first month of a sort of poetry revival, and you and your work have had no small part in the process. You have my most heart felt thanks and I eagerly await your book. Also, though I know you are terribly busy, if you ever revive the collabrative project that you talked about before, I would be happy to be involved. Thanks again,
Zero Anon
14 Zak | 17 Aug 2007
You do have some good friends, and while most of them are within “pen-giving” range, your friends 3000 miles away, you must remember, are the ones who set you up with all of your pen-friends. So you can consider that our gift.
Zak
15 Robert Bruce | 17 Aug 2007
Zak - Believe me brother, that is one thing I will never forget.
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