Did you know that on this day in history, the first portable typewriter received a U.S. patent in 1892? And writers everywhere are eternally grateful. While it is true that many writers, including me, do some of our best writing using a pen and a yellow notepad, transferring the words from my messy handwriting to the keyboard is what brings my words to life in this blog.

Learning to Touch Type

I remember taking a typing class in high school. After learning where to position our fingers on the keyboard to punch in the right letters, we moved on to more advanced skills like numbers, punctuation marks, and other symbols. At the end of the week, we were tested for accuracy and speed. And every student had a bottle of white-out by their side to fix their mistakes. Throughout the year, we also learned typewriter maintenance, like how to adjust the spools, change the ribbon, or fix it when it was tangled.

I don’t remember anything about my typing teacher, but I do remember having to type “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” over and over again. If you took a similar class, you know that particular sentence includes every letter of the alphabet. I think I used to dream about that silly dog.

As a side note, I spent all that time in class typing two spaces after each period. And then, years later, with the invention of word processing, we all had to retrain our brains to only type one space. Not an easy task!

“You type really fast!”

I don’t remember how fast I typed in high school, but I know I improved dramatically in college. I learned to type on a deadline at the student newspaper. Nothing makes you type faster than an angry editor breathing down your neck. After graduation, I worked in a newsroom as a reporter for about a year and had to make nightly deadlines before the presses ran. My colleagues marveled at how fast they could hear me type. Some asked me to type their articles for them as they dictated to me. It was how I made friends. (Just kidding!)

To answer your question, I can type about 75-80 words per minute with 95% accuracy – as long as my fingers are in the right position on the keyboard. I guess it’s a hidden talent because I still see people my age (and older or younger) use the hunt-and-peck method or only two fingers to type. I don’t judge, but I admit it’s entertaining to watch. I’m sure it’s the same entertainment my kids get when they see how slow I text on my iPhone.

Why are Typewriters Still Cool?

Tom Hanks has made no secret of his love for typewriters. He has a collection of over 250 vintage machines. So, if he thinks their cool and Tom Hanks is cool… there you go.

Here is what he had to say about typewriters, and I wholeheartedly agree.

“Everything you type on a typewriter sounds grand, the words forming in mini-explosions of SHOOK SHOOK SHOOK. A thank-you note resonates with the same heft as a literary masterpiece”. – Tom Hanks

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The New York Times has a column I enjoy called “My Ten.” Writers spotlight a celebrity, briefly sum up their latest project, and get into the meat of the conversation – what ten things do they swear by? Or what ten things excite them? Or what ten things can they not live without?

Well, I’m no celebrity, but I’ve been around for a while, so I thought I’d make my own list. Here goes nothing.

1. Reading historical fiction – As many of you already know, I’m an avid reader. Most of the time, I’m reading what everyone else is reading, whether it is a bestseller, a juicy memoir, or a political thriller. But my favorite books are historical fiction. I love being engrossed in a different time period, a new culture, or a foreign country. I learn so much from the era a writer has researched thoroughly and find myself genuinely caring for the protagonist caught in the middle of something momentous and missing them when I finish the book.
2. Late-night talk shows – The world is a messed up place, and I am concerned about my children’s future. Between ignoring climate change, accepting gun violence (and the resulting tragedies), and denying women the right to make their own decisions about their reproductive future, it’s downright scary. So, when I’m done being depressed by watching the news, I love to turn on Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, Amber Ruffin, Leslie Jones, and so many others, and their brilliant writers, who deliver the right balance of humor, befuddlement, and wisdom that I need to hear on a nightly basis. They let me know it’s not just me who feels the way I do about the world around me.
3. My back patio – Two years ago, we built a beautiful patio complete with an awning that has become an outdoor refuge from my crazy life. I love to take a glass of wine and a good book and sit on one of my comfy couches. It is also a wonderful space for entertaining our friends. Plenty of seating for everyone in a formation that allows us all to engage with each other in conversation. And when it gets dark outside, the awning has lights so we can sit out there all night.
4. My friends – I didn’t have a ton of friends growing up. I keep in touch with a few people from high school and almost none from college. The friends I have now are all very different from each other, but together they bring me the most joy. And if possible, I think we should all move into a nursing home together when it is time so we can keep the party going for as long as possible.
5. Networking – When I was looking for a new job, one of my favorite things was meeting new people. A lot of people don’t enjoy networking, but I love it. I am good at small talk and love to learn what people are passionate about and how I might be able to help. My last two positions came to me because of my business relationships. I know it isn’t for everyone, but I tell my college-age kids to give it a try. Doors will open, and endless possibilities await you.
6. Fresh flowers – I ordered fresh flowers for my Passover seder, which are beautiful. I need to remember to buy them more often and not wait for a special occasion to treat myself. Give me some pretty tulips, gorgeous roses, or fun wildflowers, and my day is automatically brighter. Life is too short.
7. Philadelphia –  I grew up in South Jersey. I moved across the Delaware River into the Philly suburbs, but this town has always been my home. While I sometimes think it would be nice to live someplace else for a while, this is the city I love. I love our sports teams and our fans (even though we get a little crazy). We have everything from colonial history to the Rocky Steps. The food scene has gotten so much better over the years. There are so many places I have yet to explore, and sometimes a staycation is all I need.
8. Adulting in Disneyworld – We went on our first Disney vacation without our kids and had the time of our lives. The rides, the food, the festivals – it’s such a special place, and I can’t wait to plan our next trip.
9. Power napping – Whenever I need to recharge during the workday and on the weekends, I will lie down on the couch for a 20-minute power nap. I always feel recharged afterward, and I never see it as being lazy. For me, it’s necessary self-care.
10. Brunch – One of the things I aspire to do is try out different places for Sunday brunch. I’ve always been a morning person, and I love breakfast food. I will microwave a breakfast sandwich during the week and count that as breakfast, but what I crave is going somewhere with the perfect omelet, bagel with lox and whitefish, and a good cup of coffee. Doesn’t that sound amazing?

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The ping of my iPhone is what wakes me up every morning. I reach out to my nightstand blindly and knock down the TV remote and my reading glasses before I find my phone.

“The word is ALERT.” I read her text.

I smile because, ironically, she has chosen a word that is the complete opposite of what I am feeling at the moment. And then, I put the phone down and immediately fall back to sleep.

A few minutes later – another ping and next to me, my husband growls, “Tell her to stop texting so early in the morning or put your phone on silent mode at night.”

I get up because our poodle, Chloe, is wide awake and patiently waiting for me to take her outside. We both head downstairs in complete darkness, but for the flashlight on my phone. I let her out in the backyard to do her business. She takes no more than 30 seconds to run out the door and find her spot to get the job done.

Meanwhile, the phone pings again. “You up?”

I text back. “Coffee first.” I feel a set of eyes staring up at me. It’s Chloe’s way of asking me for a treat. I oblige and then proceed to make myself a cup of coffee from the Keurig before opening up the NYT Wordle to type in ALERT. I hope I can add another win to my 122-day streak.

The coffee starts to kick in, so I text back. “Okay, I’m ready.”

This is how my sister, Karen, and I start our day. She picks the word we start with, and we see how many guesses it takes us to arrive at the answer. We text each other as we play.

• Is it a Spanish word?
• “Do I know this word?”
• Did you get it yet?”
• “I hate it when there are too many options.”
• “I can’t get it, and I have four yellow letters.”
• “I have no clue what this word is.”
• “Do you want a hint?” (The answer is always – “ABSOLUTELY NOT!)
• “I need more coffee.”
• “What the fuck is guano?!”

One time, the winning word was duvet – which turned into a 30-minute conversation on why we hate them and how she introduced two people who loved duvets, and it turned out to be a match made in heaven.

Anyway…this has been our morning ritual for over a year. For me, it goes Chloe – Coffee – Wordle. Sometimes it’s Chloe – Wordle – Coffee, but I tend to break my winning streak on those days.

Spending quality time together in the early hours of the morning – even if it is over the phone – is our way of showing how much we care. We take the time out of our busy schedules to spend 10-15 minutes Wordle-ing and texting each other. And Karen and I share more than similar word choices in our daily matchup. We have the same sense of humor, taste in 80s movies, and political leanings – and a love of word games.

If I don’t answer her or she doesn’t answer me, we immediately think something is wrong and demand proof of life. I really do worry if she doesn’t answer me back right away. It’s silly, But to prove my point – for Hanukkah, she bought me a Wordle-themed coffee mug that reads, “If you don’t get my Wordle text, call the hospitals.” I almost bought her the same mug.

I know, we are weird. But, wherever we are in the world, I don’t think we could start our days any other way.

Happy Siblings Day, little sis.

XO,

Elisa

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