By Kathy Hughes

Contributing Writer

As I have continued with the “adult coloring” craze, I have been accumulating pencil sets (three), pencil sharpeners (three) and coloring books (five). After all, the best part of taking up a new activity is collecting all the new tools of the trade, so to speak.

Recently, I ordered my first professional color pencil set  —  by Faber-Castell. I ordered them online after careful comparison of the different brands, especially quality and price. My anticipation was so strong that I paid the extra fee for expedited shipping — a first! I would have 48 new colors to work with in just two or three days, at least that was my intention.

My hopes were dashed when I received the confirmation email that my shipment would arrive in three weeks, not days. What?!!! I also read that my items were being shipped from Thailand, for heaven’s sake. Unbelievable, simply beyond comprehension. Following up on this injustice, I received a refund for the expedited shipping, but it was too late to cancel the order; my only recourse would be to return the package for a refund. As if, once I had the pencils in hand, would I send them back, so I waited.

I was almost afraid to open the package  —  what if they were all broken, or not the real thing.

Remember the childhood yearning for the giant crayon box, with every color imaginable, or even opening a new crayon box, with all the tempting colors, arranged in double (or triple?) rows? That’s what it was like opening the new box of colored pencils, arranged like jewels in two, neatly nested trays.

The two pencil sets that I already owned, had good use; they were worn to the nub. My first set of twelve colored pencils was purchased at the drugstore. Surprisingly, there was a range of colors, with multiple choices of browns, blues and greens. The pencil barrels were colored corresponding to their effect, but they were not labeled as such.