Greg, (a response to Greg Liefel's post on using a Ticondaroga pencil)

 

I have a confession…Tycon was not my first.

 

 I settled for something less than the best when I was young. I was forced into submission by the good nuns. They insisted that they knew what was best. Little did I know that were other choices.  No one taught me any different. So, I guess I thought they were all the same. I should have seen the handwriting on the wall. Throughout my life I regretted not staying between the lines - the lines that were so clearly drawn by the nuns. But, alas, I had no control. Each time I tried it, it felt as if I were shaving off a little of my self-esteem with each stoke.

 

Then, came a string of others who were equally unsatisfying – Sharpie, Schaeffer…but nothing flicked my bic. Yet, somehow I knew instinctively that there was something out there that I was missing. I knew I had to take matters in my own hand. It was fine line, but I had to cross it sooner or later.

 

My point is that your story made me realize that it isn’t too late to get a grip. I can now erase that part of my life and draw upon new resources to bring things into perspective. So when providence lead me to that certain aisle in that certain store, I felt drawn to share “my first” with you. It’s never too late to reclaim what was whittled away in youth. Together we can sharpen our senses to complete the picture of our shaded lives. We can face each other – starting with the eyes.

 

This may be a No. 2, but you will always be number one with me.

 

Marilyn

 

 

Greg’s response..

 

 

Dear Marilyn,

I arrived home from a Christmas spent in Arizona with my family to find your 

wonderful gifts. 

You couldn't have written and illustrated for me a finer letter. "Eye" 

appreciate the time you took to choose the "write" words to share with me 

your thoughts on the story. I truly loved writing The Story of Ticon, and 

also your sense of humor in your letter, as well as those sultry/confident 

eyes.

When I read your line, "My point is that your story made me realize that it 

isn't too late to get a grip. I can now erase that part of my life and draw 

upon new resources to bring things into perspective", I was rewarded greatly 

in spirit. When I noticed that you had opened the pencil package and used the 

gift (the nuns would be aghast wouldn't they?) I was blown away. You broke 

all the rules on that one. You drew wildly outside the lines. And yet I could 

receive no greater compliment than that. Thank you so kindly for those 

perfect actions. The "Eyes" certainly have it.

My experiment has been a tremendous success, and I'm working on new ways to 

put it into practice. I'd like to write custom stories in this way for 

others, on a regular basis. May I ask your permission to someday use the 

quote above from you in promotion on my website? There I will post the 5 

words, 2 sentences, and trigger question, and the stories. I think your quote 

after the story will go a long way to help others realize the immediate power 

of story.

Hope you had a great Holiday, and Happy New Year to you, Marilyn.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Greg