I picked up a box of paperclips last week in Germany; for no good reason other than aesthetics—and a dash of nostalgia for the time I used to live there—I prefer their pointy tips to the rounded versions that are standard in the US.
It’s a funny thing, nostalgia. Obviously, that period of my life was much richer than a simple office product, and I don’t have any specific memories associated with paperclips in particular. But I still find comfort in the quotidian reminder of a thoroughly mundane object, something I can integrate into my everyday routine and think about more frequently than I would, say, look at my photo album, or reread the fragmentary journal that I kept back then. It’s a more meaningful relationship, I guess. And now that I’ve replenished my supply, I can use them with abandon, and without fear of running out anytime soon!
4 Comments
AllenH
It’s the little things sometimes! My GF Chel goes out to the store to pick up any old appointment book (that is of the general type she likes), whereas I might wait a month or two trying to find one I think might work (love-hate relationship with paper planners). Some people use Bic pens, some people use Fountain-Pens with scented inks.
Some worry about paper-clip shapes… 
To me, it’s the little things sometimes that make the experience of work into a joy. Having good tools, and tools you enjoy makes you ready to get into the nitty gritty of the week.
You can smile when you paper-clip some pages, and others will think you’re crazy for enjoying paper-clipping.
Fantastic post!!
Christian
Take a look at these funny paperclips: http://www.notizbuchblog.de/2009/12/11/figuren-als-buroklammern/ – you can find some more paperclip posts in my blog: http://www.notizbuchblog.de/?s=B%C3%BCroklammer
Leah Hoffmann
Danke, Christian! Cool paperclips – thanks for sharing.
Gentian
I love the cute midori paper clips:
http://www.jetpens.com/index.php/cPath/156_938
They sell them at Kinokuniya too. I have never bought any but I like the idea.
Paper clips always makes me think of Bert from Sesame Street with his paper clip collection.
Glad you were able to get some that you had fond memories of.