We've all been there. That lucky sock you wear to every game, or that pencil you use on every test. Even if you aren't necessarily superstitious, it just makes you feel more secure to have that one thing you can count on. For me, it was a red paper clip that I have had for years. Unfortunately, I recently discovered that my paper clip has decided to move on to bigger and more important papers. This is a letter celebrating the time that we had together and appreciating its positive effect on my life.

I remember the first day I met you. I was sitting in class, about to turn in my first research paper. It was on mitosis. I was about to grab the stapler, but then I saw you. You were just sitting there, waiting to fulfill your purpose of binding pages temporarily together. I decided to do something different. For the first time, I didn’t pick the stapler. I took a chance on you, and I’ve never been happier with my choice.

You were different from all the other paper clips too, because you were red and beautiful. I knew that my paper on mitosis would be safe in your care, so I introduced the two of you and I turned in my paper, but I never forgot how lovely a shade of red you were, or how you seemed to embrace your natural curves confidently.

Eventually, I got that paper back and I was able to see you again. You were as beautiful as ever, and after receiving an A on the paper, I attributed it to the fact the you had a to be a good luck charm, so for the next few years, like a Pokémon, I would choose you to accompany my most important papers as they faced possible doom. You can imagine my grief then when I realized your absence yesterday as I was trying to get a midterm paper together. I opened the drawer, looking for your red and fiery self, and as I realized that you had run away, a tear slid down my face.

I know people probably think it’s silly that I’m writing a letter to office supplies. They would probably say that it’s silly because you’ll never be able to read it, or that even if you could, you probably don’t have a computer. I guess all these things are technically true, but I feel that you’ve been underappreciated, and I want to thank you for all that you’ve done the past few years.

For years now, you’ve made the lives of students, teachers, businessmen (and women), and anyone that has the need to bind papers together easier. I want to personally thank you for the contributions you’ve made to society. Without you, the world would be a mess of papers sprawled all about. I mean sure, we’ve got staplers, but those can be dangerous, and then there’s the whole dilemma of where to put the staple and they are so difficult to remove.

Anyway, I don’t know what made you leave, or why you had to go so suddenly, but I hope wherever you are, that you are happy. Maybe one day I’ll run into you, signing a contract to a house or a big corporate job, and there you’ll be, having the time of your life, keeping things together.

Take Care,

Ashlyn Carey