True Story. I sat next to a one-armed girl in typing class back in the 8th grade. I know it shouldn't have... but it freaked me out and I couldn't ever really concentrate on the teacher's instructions. I forget the girl's name now although our surnames must have been similar (alphabetical seating, and all), but I do recall that she was the fastest typist in the school. That fact was well broadcasted and she received constant praise from the Faculty of Secretarial Curriculum. Thinking back I guess maybe she had two arms but only one hand. I can't say for certain. I tried not to look too closely but I do remember the way she returned the carriage with her left elbow at the end of each line or paragraph.. So yes...two arms, two elbows, one hand. I'm pretty sure.
Ironically, I would later in life lose most of my hair (to absolutely no praise or acclaim) and the majority of sight in one eye (drinking accident), and come to understand how one adapts to such curveballs
Fate hurls ones way. Anyway, the result was I became among the worst typists in the grade.--me and everyone else that didn't sign up for the class to begin with, although I wasn't given that choice. As you might suppose, most of the guys who enrolled in
Intro To Typing did so because of the obvious high 'girl to boy' ratios in such classes. Mine was just a bad handwriting issue and a mandate from my Guidance Counselor. Typewriters were 'the way of the future,' I was told. I didn't buy it, though. One armed girl or not, I hedged my bets and went in the opposite direction saving up my paper route money for something called a calculator. And even though they were $200 at the time for the simplest model, it was my only hope of getting through four more years of Math. I eventually bought a guitar instead and graduated in the bottom third of the class with all the other smart alecs.
So, I didn't become a rock star because of the hair loss issue (although I understand the drummer of Def Leppard has only one arm and one leg), a pilot because of the bad eye, an architect because of low Math IQ or a writer because of horrible handwriting and equally bad typing skills. And as luck would have it, typewriters were
not the 'way of the future,' but computers
were, leaving me on the sidelines in about every way imaginable from a career standpoint. Ultimately, I sold Insurance for a living until I was 40.
Add on another 10 years in the Real Estate arena and the mercurial cycle of life completed yet another revolution and landed me back to where I was in 1969--in front of a keyboard with a lot to say and only two fingers with which to say it. At this stage of the life game I would almost gladly give up a hand--or even a hand plus an elbow (no return carriages necessary on a laptop) to be able to spill out a couple hundred volumes of work at a 120WPM. There are not only Real Estate related blog posts floating around this shiny dome of mine, but novels, short stories, essays, and screenplays, as well--or so I imagine as I peck away in earnest trying to complete a sentence before I forget the driving thought. As a result, I am seriously considering enrolling in an adult typing class just to help extract these ideas from my brain to the screen via my fingertips in a speedier manner. It certainly couldn't hurt
I met a one-armed man on a cruise a few years back. Sat next to him in a whirlpool almost everyday on the pool deck as we cruised the Caribbean at Christmas for the umpteenth time each, it turned out---St Maartens, St. Kitts, who cares. Anywhere but the Midwest in December, is my credo. His too.
"Let the wives shop and we'll just get a tan on whatever is left of our aging bodies," my new friend said one morning, including me some way in his own personal quagmire of physical shortcomings. He probably meant the hair, come to think of it, or perhaps it was the slight limp from an old high school football injury that pops up every so often. He sold cars in Detroit. Judging from the gold Rolex on his remaining wrist he seemed to be doing pretty well for himself. I can only hope that my junior high school typing companion found a similar route to success in her life---or at the very least, simple happiness and a decent computer programming career.
Geno Petro
It always amazes me how the attitudes and decisions we made early on affect and influence us later in life. The adult typing class sounds like a great move. I share your interests in writing. I have always wanted to attempt a novel, but just don't have the discipline or patience. The storylines are up in the head, but translating them to hard copy ain't happening! Thanks for sharing, Geno. Love your words!
Geno...you sure can write...maybe you just need a trascriber and you can use a recorder. It would be such a waste of your abilities and creative skills to be limited by your typing skills or lack there of. It's funny because I remember my 8th grade typing class so vividly too. I think I got up to 43 words per minute. For some reason my memories are all in black and white...was it that long ago?
Funny how things follow us around all our lives.
Yes, get thee to a typing class. Or, invest in some whiz-bang gizmo that types as you dictate.
Nice to see you on the big board.
I guess you figured out the bottom line - Folks are Folks.
Well, Geno, I have a different version of your story. I refused to take typing with my "holier than thou "attitude of "I will NEVER be anyone's secretary". How's that for being full of myself? My best friend meanwhile, was advised by her mother that all women should take typing so that if all else failed you could be a secretary, and she mastered typing. I guess the joke was on both of us since computers and voice mail replaced secretaries, and now everyone needs to know how to type to use a computer keyboard!
Ironically, and true to my word, I was never a secretary. My best friend never even worked...stayed home to take care of kids. I did finally learn to type, but only on one of those crazy curved keyboards. Those things are a godsend. Good thing too, because it would drive me crazy if I couldn't write. It is truly an outlet for an over-active mind.
Thank you for this post. Refreshing change of pace for ActiveRain.
Geno, I'm not much of a typist either. I skipped typing class in school because I knew there was no way I was going to be someone's secretary. (I had a bit of an attitude problem) Always thought I'd be a boss somewhere. Who would have thought that now I'd be typing(The best I can without lessons). I'm not perfect...but that's what my novel will be about.
Funny, the graphic to type in the box says,"belimbing". It must have ESPN.
Geno,
Who knew typing would be so important all these years later. I got an A in typing but never learned how to type. I've become really fast with two fingers over the years.
My typing teacher in HS was so bad we were allowed to take our assignments home on the "honor system" So I went home spent an hour typing with two fingers and handed in a perfect paper. Who was I kidding.
I lucked out career wise by having a secretary in my previous career in advertising sales. I dictated everything I did either into a machine to be transcribed (and I can mumble with a NY accent) or they took short hand.
At this point I don't think I can ever learn the proper way to type. I am pretty fast but if I knew then what I know now.
Hey Geno guess what, with the advent of the computer and its unique ability to do anything a program can be written for, today there are voice recognition software by a number of different sources. I haven't used one recently except the native reading program in windows but I know some of them work pretty well once you train them to your voice. Imagine typing as fast as you can speak.
GREAT BLOG! Thank you for making my afternoon.
Funny, I took typing because I heard that's where all the boys were, looking for girls! All I remember from typing class was making those 8.5" x 11" typed pictures of a puppy or a Christmas tree, or one of those other pictures that filled the pages with the required xxxxx's ooooo's and -----'s in all the right places.
Turns out, I didn't meet a boy in that typing class -- instead I fell for the long-haired guy who was cutting class and always hanging right outside the classroom window. Still with that guy, and he's now got a shiny dome head too.
Loved, loved, loved your post by the way. I say go for the typing class and ditch any ideas of a voice recorder. You need to see the words flow out of your fingertips in order to write a great novel or screenplay. It just can't transcribe well in the spoken word. Just my .02 cents worth.
This is a GREAT story, and the writing is fabulous. Your picture is compelling, too- I'm subscribed!
Freakin Hilarious! Great style, and I am also losing my hair. Gray in high school and now falling out. Good stuff.
I could be you (without that imagination) your story so closely resembles mine it is unfathomable. I left typing class after the first day 'cause it was for sissy's, I sold insurance for a short while, did the cruise thing (sure beats upstate NY anytime of the year) and have definitely seen my best hair day long ago. So anyway, I agree with Diane's comment, get one of those dicta-phone thing-a-ma-jigs and start writing....your talent should not be wasted!
Dick Beals
adult typing class just buy a mic and get voice recognition software like Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9
Thank you for all the comments and input. I read each one with great interest and track back to every commentors's own blog. As I visit each of your sites I'll in turn respond with my own comments on your individual posts. I appreciate the readership here @ AR whenever I do get featured. Thanks again and I look forward to visiting you all later.
Geno
Geno
You made me laugh. I have all the faculties but a bit of a writer's block. NO ONE ever gets it all. I never under-estimate simple happiness.
Geno-I loved this post and wondered where you had been. This really made me smile and laugh. I love typing, I hate to write at all. 2 of my 3 sons took typing and I am glad they did, so are they, on the other hand my youngest opted to ignore my advice and now he is a pointer finger typer. Try attending college now and not be very handy on a computer, its difficult on him. People wonder what is wrong with him? Surfer.....Sports...Girls... He now loooooves surfing the web and is thinking about taking a class.
I would take a class if you can sit through it. I have seen software where you can learn how to type...
My cat bit my left hand (you know THE hand) last week and I could not use it, I was suffering trying to work with only one hand. I managed...it was not easy at all. I got impatient with myself.
Geno...what a unique and interesting post...
It's really true,like is a series of interlinked (is that a word?) events all being either causes or effects...
ok, I admit, you got me after reading the first line... sucked me in and I enjoyed the post...
BUT am I the only fool on here that knows the drummer from Def Leppard really has both legs, he just lost an arm in an auto accident!
signed,
Jennifer "Pour Some Sugar on Me" Walker-Derby
I took typing. My mom said the same things. IF your husband dies, IF you don't get a degree, IF you do get a degree, etc., typing will speed you on your way. She had no clue and never used a computer before she died. I'm not sure she ever saw one in real life. The irony is I told all three of my kids the same thing: "It doesn't matter where you go in life, you WILL need keyboarding skills!" They all graduated before most homes had PC's but I knew they'd need them at work. I thank my mom for her advice. My kids thank me for mine. My husband woks in the computer field and can do a fast hunt and peck at maybe 35 wpm! He writes weekly, sometimes daily, reports with 3 or 4 fingers! What a shame his mom didn't tell him the words of wisdom mine did me!
I really enjoyed reading your post. Keep it up!
I only made it to 35 words a minute at the end of my typing class. I've improved somewhat over the years.
Thank goodness for the backspace key!
I could be wrong, but she was probably a "thalidimide baby" In the early 60s someone came out with a drug to alleviate morning sickness for pregnant women. It worked for the pregnant women, but the babies were born deformed, often missing a hand up to the elbow.
The drug was most often taken during the time that limbs were being formed, and so affected arms and legs in varying degrees.
It was fairly commonly known at the time when you saw someone with partial limbs, that their mothers took this morning sickness medication. What an awful thing for a Mom to deal with. Can't imagine the guilt.
So whenever I saw a thalidmide child, I felt so very sorry for the Mom that "caused" it to happen.
Just in case you wanted to know :)
Geno, I'd gladly type slower if I could write like you.
And remember the quote from the 90-something woman who, when asked about her regrets said, "If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken up the violin at 60. I'd have been playing for almost 40 years by now..."
Geno,
Loved your post. When I describe my high school years and typing classes I & II, more than anything else, H.S. was FUN Consequently, I graduated in alphabetically, not academically. Guess it was good thing in the long-run, other wise I'd still be working (instead of only one year) at the phone company.
For me personally, attitude is everything!
Geno, there you go with the anecdotal stuff again :)
You are a wonderful storyteller and I enjoy your tales. I hope all is well and it was nice to run into you over here.
Geno, great stuff. we really enjoy your writings. I could never type either but once my son went to school and took "keyboarding" for a class I figured it must be cool now.
I am an avid golfer and when I was young I used to caddie for a one arm golfer. He played better than I can with two arms.
It's amazing as to how we overcome adversities. We just keep on plugging.
Geno, it sounds like you have a lot to contribute. Your message is more important than than your ability to type fast!
Geno - you are a classic. I'd love to read some of those short stories. Fictional though they would be! :)
I would just like to point out that in junior high I knew I would be a centerfielder for the Royals. But alas, I was done in by a lack of talent.
Geno, you did a great job getting that story from your "shiny dome" as you call it, to your computer screen!
Get a tape recorder and start recording your thoughts & stories, then you'll never forget them. Then when you're ready, replay a recording and then blog about it!
Geno
With a writing ability like yours, get yourself something and fast..Several described above, Just Talk!
I have two years of typing, showing my age here, but manual and electric at 90wpm, and who cares! I also took two years of Greg shorthand both as electives in my College course, because of same reasons some stated above, my mom. Glad I can type but would rather have your gift.
Geno...
This is my third trip over to this post. Every time I read this it makes me sad. I wish I could tell you more about that. But there is a time and place for everything and AR (The Internet) is not the place for what I have to say. Just know that your post has touched me and I truly relate to you and other's who face challenges that are difficult to overcome.
TLW...ROAR!
As always, I laughed... I cried. I laughed AND cried and that made me practically snort milk out my nose over lunch....
Geno - Great post! It was nice to take my own trip back down memory lane. I look forward to reading more of your blogs.
Mixed feelings. But you did put it together nicely. Keep on posting.
Geno, I always enjoy your posts. This one reminds me that "all things happen for a reason".
Geno
You have a wonderful way with words. Your blogs are always enjoyable, and you capture the essence of how to tell a story. Great Stuff!
Great post and so very well written. Have you tried the software that transcribes your words into your word processor?
Well this post forced me to check your other blogs. All great stuff. I look forward to your first published book - it should be a best seller.
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