My Mom Gave Me This Little Luxury for My Birthday, and I Still Use It Every Day

My mom and I have a very “us” way of getting each other gifts, which often involves a hefty dose of honesty and returned gifts with lots of I’m sorrys and thank yous. (It’s just how we do things, and it helps nip any future decluttering guilt in the bud!) But every once in a while, we hit on a gift that’s a total winner. That’s what happened a couple of birthdays ago, when my mom gave me the same pen that she loves to use: the Cross Bailey Light Pen. 

When she asked me if I’d like one, my first response was no. I didn’t see the need for a “special” pen when I had plenty of daily pens I liked just fine (that I didn’t have to worry about losing). But my mom told me how much she liked hers, and I could tell it meant a lot to her to give me something she enjoyed so much. So I eventually changed my mind, and picked out a white and gold one that I thought was really pretty — and I have enjoyed using it every single day since I got it. 

Cross pens have a long and distinguished history. The company was founded in Rhode Island in 1846 by Richard Cross, who was a “passionate champion of writing as an art form,” according to the Cross site. They’re beautifully made, rigorously tested, and backed by a lifetime mechanical warranty. 

The Cross Bailey Light Pen is crafted to weigh less than their other pens. It goes for $34 on the Cross site, although it’s currently on sale for $20 on Amazon. You can refill it with various types of Cross refills, such as black or blue ink and rollerball or ballpoint, each available in various thicknesses. The pen not only looks great, but is also comfortable to write with for a long time.

I love my Cross Bailey Light Pen because it works so well. In my year-and-a-half of using it daily, the ink has never once skipped, run, or dried out. It flows smoothly and reliably and feels so nice gliding across the page. 

The pen also feels great in my hand, which is something you don’t really appreciate much until you have a pen that does! There’s something about the width and heft of it that makes it feel light and balanced in my grip. The pen sits on my planner and it’s what I use every day to write down my schedule and to-dos or to take notes while I’m on a phone call. 

I really love the look of it, too. It’s beautiful and makes even mundane writing tasks feel more special. When I’m writing something more unusual like a letter or thank you card, the pen befits the occasion. It might sound silly, but it’s the little things, right?

The invisible reason I adore this pen, though, is that my mom gave it to me. She lives nearly all the way across the country from me, and I miss her. Using this pen, and knowing she’s using the same one, makes me feel connected to her. 

It’s a small treasure I use every day that was given to me with her love, and I cherish holding the embodiment of that in my hand. It’s also extra special because I’m a writer, so a nice pen feels symbolic of something so central to my identity. This Cross pen has reminded me of how impactful upgrading the little things you use every day can be — and how sometimes the best gift is something you love yourself. 

Buy: Cross Bailey Light Pen, $19.85