I remember when I got my first typewriter…actually, my only typewriter.

I believe it was a birthday present. I can’t remember why I wanted one, maybe typing class inspired me, or maybe I had the interest in writing from an early age. Probably that, since I had about a C average in typing class.

Of course, now they have been replaced by computers. But I still remember sitting on the floor in my brother’s room, pecking out a letter or some homework, on my portable baby blue typewriter. I can’t remember the brand…my whole family is looking them up now. It might have been a Smith Corona, but I sure wish I still had it!

I remember fighting with the correctional fluid, then finally getting the correction tape or was it a ribbon? Anyway, I tried harder not to make them in the first place.

Unfortunately, like so many other things, my love affair was short lived as my other hobbies and likes grew and took over. Music was a strong passion, and I practiced the guitar enough to play actual music. I remember my mom stopped outside my door one day and said I was getting pretty good, because she recognized the song I was playing. “Something” by the Beatles I think it was. My sister had left me all of her song books, with the notes carefully written above the lyrics.

I was never as good or as fast on the typewriter as I am on the keyboard, but there’s a sweet nostalgia that comes with the memory. The hot summer, sitting on the floor with the air conditioning blowing down my back as I worked feverishly to finish my letter-or whatever I was composing. I don’t remember why I was sitting on the floor, I’m sure I had a built in desk that my dad provided for us, maybe I was in a particular mood. I might have been working on some poetry, but I couldn’t sit on the floor to work now to save my life! I wish I had whatever it was I used to type, but who knows where all that ended up.

When I got married, all those things got forgotten as I moved on to adult responsibilities and new adventures. Luckily, my love for writing was rekindled through letters while I was in the Army, then grew when I learned about blogging. In the early days, I wanted to use it as a way to make money but soon abandoned that effort as well, although I do write for magazines and other things from time to time.

Maybe one day I’ll go find one like my old machine and see if I can recreate the old magic.