The pen has no significance to you.
It is merely a hotel pen, that arrived on the loading dock with 999 other identical pens. But it means something to me, just like that sand painting or lei or snow globe means to you. I picked it up at the Renaissance Koh Samui in Thailand during a trip around the world nearly four years ago.
I don’t think the hotel chains know that their pens have meaning. If they did, they would order the custom pens instead of the ones that just say “Renaissance Hotels.” I have a whole drawer of hotel pens without meaning: Marriott, Hilton, Doubletree, and more. But this custom pen has meaning. I used it to write postcards from the deck of our deluxe room…during the day, of course, because the mosquitoes moved in at night, camping around the yellow glow of our room.
Since then, it has traveled with me in backpacks and carry-ons to other parts of the world. Its trip to China last month will be its last. The pen is starting to get a bit temperamental, so I will throw it away today before it decides to glob on my shirt or my notebook. I still have my Koh Samui memories, along with about 100 other hotel pens that are begging to be used.
I’ll write more about the Renaissance Koh Samui soon, but this pen deserved its own story after the journey it’s taken.
PS. I don’t really have feelings for ballpoint pens.
Dear Matthew,
I read your story and it reminded me a bit of myself, whenever I travel I collect matchboxes and from time to time I review the collection to recall my visits to the various places. Since the matchboxes most of the times contain the detailed address of their origin it can be tricky with pens where often only a brand name is indicated. I am happy to hear that our pen has been at your service such a long time, we have changed the logo of our resort in the meantime, but we still keep “Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa” printed on it. I was able to locate some of the old pens with the original logo in our store room and it would be my pleasure to mail you one of them as a replacement for the one that is going to retire soon. Some habits are worth being kept, so by sending me your mailing address to lutz.mueller@renaissancehotels.com I would like to be of assistance in keeping up your writing routine.
Best regards from Koh Samui and Happy Songkran (Sawadee Pee Mai)
Lutz Mueller
General Manager
Renaissance koh Samui Resort & Spa