| Powered by phpBay Pro |
Universal as it may be, how did you learn to type? Did instruction books help?
In my early 20s I decided it was time to learn so rented a portable manual typewriter per month until I could pay to buy it. My spot was the kitchen table where I set it up, then opened a book and began to type it all out page by page over the days ahead. Finally took a commercial course too and that helped. Eventually ended up several years later as a top paid typesetter for a newspaper!
I took a typing class in high school. I do not recall that we had instruction books, although it seems we should have, but I do recall the teacher writing on the chalk board what we were to practice and learn each day. And even though I was the fastest typist in my first and only typing class in high school, I believe that I truly began learning to type as a very young child on my grandfather's old Olivetti typewriter.
My sister was quite a bit older than me and had already taken a typing class in high school, so each time I would put my hands on my grandfather's typewriter, her words would ring in my head -- "a, s, d, f, j, k, l, semi". These were the home keys that the four fingers of your left and right hand must remain on while typing. Well, that's how I thought of it anyway. I would practice for hours and hours on my grandfather's typewriter, rewinding the ribbon until it could no longer make the slightest impression on the onionskin paper that I was given to use. My grandfather would tell me I was going to be the world's greatest secretary, and I considered that to be a great compliment.
My typing speed now comfortably averages at about 120 words a minute with no mistakes; however, I have had moments where my speed was well above that. I decided to use my speed to make money by starting a typing service. I marketed to various professions and within a few months, I had enough clients to make a comfortable living. The faster I typed, the more money I could make in a day. The faster I typed, the more time I had to spend with my young son.
After seven years, I have moved on and no longer have the typing service, and my son is now in college. I still find myself mentally typing conversations, and my sister's instruction still rings in my head each time I sit at the computer to type.
Great memories.
Items Recently Purchased From This Site:
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
