Today I was asked to talk about a person who had a big impact on my life.
I told the story of my 4th birthday when my grandfather bought me a used typewriter from a police auction and gave it to me as my birthday gift. Some could think it a strange present to give a four-year old, but for me it was perfect.
It was so heavy, I couldn’t lift the typewriter for the first few years! But I remember it being my constant companion as I played all sorts of ‘make believes’ like hotels, airlines and radio studios. I wasn’t ever sure that my typewriter had a place in a 70′s radio station – but I didn’t really care.
I reckon I must have nearly worn out that old typewriter, but over the years it gave me hours and hours of fun as I busily created and retyped documents, and without knowing it, developing the fine motor skills required to touch type.
Today I work in an information technology and communications role, and the words flow out of my fingers at 80 words per minute. The legacy of that early typewriter carried with me every day I use my computer.
I don’t know where the typewriter ended up – I’m sure it got thrown out in a move of house somewhere in my teens – but the skill I learned and the memories of my highly astute grandfather will never leave me.
So now, this is my opportunity to say thank you Poppa – for your insight and courage to give me a gift and a skill I use every day.
I don’t know whether you ever realised it, but your gift had the single biggest impact on my life.
What a gift! Thank you
James
I used to type out reports and notes in Grade school on an old, beat up typewriter my Mom had in the closet… My teachers were constantly telling me not to because my handwriting wasn’t improving. My typing skills were great though!