Back to School

I walked by the Greenwood Space Travel Supply Store the other day and noticed they had a "Back to School" sign in their window.

It is that time of year!

I moved in for a closer inspection and saw that they also had some vintage-y typewriters and books displayed.

It made me think of the last time I used a typewriter. I think it was probably to type up an application - possibly in high school or right at the beginning of college. My Dad always had a beastly IBM Selectric and was a big proponent of typing applications. I always felt that it was kind of a pain, but my penmanship is atrocious.

I did learn how to type on a typewriter, though. I took typing in 10th grade and had Mrs. Walz. She had severed the tendon in her forefinger on one of her hands, so it would never bend - it just pointed out straight. She could still type like a mofo, though. She was also quite a stickler. We had to learn how center headings by counting off and using some weird formula (something about 60 and 30?). Indenting was five spaces and I think you had to make something like 5 carriage returns to start at the right place on the page. Gawd. I feel so old.

Thank the Lord for computers! They're new fangled, but I think they're here to stay. But I wonder if Mrs. Walz still has a typewriter?