I began my typewriter journey using a machine exactly like the one in the photograph around 1976/7. My mother bought our “family” typewriter from J.C. Penney, no doubt using her 15% employee discount. She even opted for the larger, and more expensive, wide-carriage model. Sadly, I have no memories of her using this machine but I do have memories of me typing “term papers” on our machine during middle and high school. In fact, my paper on space travel earned me my first trip to Washington, D.C. and enabled me to witness the swearing-in of Jimmy Carter, among other things.

When I decided to add a typewriter to my toolkit last year, I was able to find another copy of the same machine. Maybe it was here waiting on me knowing some day I’d be back. Life works that way, you know.