My Favorite Typewriter
Whenever I hear or see the
word typewriter my first thought is always of Jerry Lewis doing that
pantomime to the song aptly named “The Typewriter”. Of course I
love music so it's common for me to associate all kinds of things
with music. My Mom had an old Underwood typewriter. It sat in our
den. It must have weighed north of 20 pounds, or so it seemed. This
was the typewriter I used throughout high school if I needed to type
something up.
That was a long time ago.
Does anyone even have a typewriter any more? Do people under the age
of 40 even know what it is? What happened to all those people who
ran typewriter repair places? I was not good at typing, even though
I took the subject in high school. I avoided it. Only typed papers
when it was required. This, in spite of the fact that the American
(QWERTY) keyboard favors the left hand and I am left handed. It was
one of the few things related to school that was. Both reading and
writing are more favorable to right handed people, even the desks
were all set up for right handed people. Regardless, typing and I
just don't do so well together.
There were 2 other
typewriters in my life. A Remington, a new, less substantial
typewriter I could take to college. It was a gift from my parents
for my high school graduation. The last was a portable Olivetti I
purchased after I got out of the Air Force.
It was the old Underwood
that I used to fill out my college applications since the Remington
was yet to make the scene. I applied to only 3 colleges partially
because I hated doing the applications. I had a college prep
meeting with my high school guidance counselor and my parents some
time during my junior year. My adviser not so gently informed my
parents that I may have a tough time getting into a good college
because I was what he termed “a classic under-achiever”.
Colleges did not like my kind. As soon as my Father heard those
words (underachiever, not getting into college) coming from the
guidance counselor's mouth, I received a look from my Father that
was, shall we say, memorable. [ Don't like “my kind”? Hold on
there mister, don't be so quick to run down us under-achievers. We
are not all bad. And, I'm not just any old under-achiever, I'm a
“classic” under-achiever. So sure I may be one, but it sounds to
me like I did this under achiever thing well. Hey there Dad, enough
with the stink-eye. You're the one who always says “Be the labor
great or small, do it well or not at all”. Sounds to me like I
nailed this one... ] So my parents, at least my Dad, sort of
panicked and decided that I needed all the help I could get. After
consulting with clergy and others it was decided my best bet, being
Lutheran and all, was to apply to some Lutheran affiliated colleges.
Under the impression that the state universities would be too hard to
get into (low fees - many applicants). I did not attempt to apply to
any of those. We (they) found some colleges that looked like they
might work and narrowed it to three. The 3 schools I applied to were
Valparaiso, Hartwick, and St. Olaf. We visited Hartwick since it was
not too far away. They were very non-committal about my chances. My
mother decided she did not like them. She could not understand why
any school would not jump at a chance to have her son attend their
institution. Unlike my Dad, who was a “classic underachiever” in
school himself, I don't think she bought into my counselor's
assessment. I kinda liked Hartwick, but it was on my Mom's shit-list
and the assumption was I probably would not get in. I sent out my
applications. I got the Valparaiso acceptance letter in a few days.
Well that's the way it seemed anyway. It was like they sent the
letter off the same day I sent in the application. So I selected
“Valpo” because they were the 1st college to accept me
and took all the pressure off about me getting into and attending
college from my family. I ended up getting into all 3.
Back to the favorite
typewriter: I liked my portable Olivetti but my favorite typewriter
turned out to be something else. For Christmas one year under the
tree was a large nicely wrapped present that had the shape of a
typewriter. When I saw it, I was convinced that was what it was and
I could feel that Christmas morning joy that I had looked forward to
all year long head out the window. I was crestfallen. I was hoping
for something else. So I opened all my other presents first,
avoiding the eventual let down. My parents were anxious for me to
open the big one I kept ignoring and were a bit surprised about me
leaving it till last. That was out of character for me. Well I
could only stall for so long and finally started to slowly open it
trying to not show disappointment. As I opened it I realized it was
not a typewriter but a nice phonograph, the very thing I wanted.
Still my favorite typewriter!!!
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