My 4th Birthday Present
Posted on 08. Feb, 2010 by James Williams in Personal
Today I was asked the question “If you were a motivational speaker, what time in your life would you talk about with us”
I told the story of my fourth birthday when my grandfather bought me a heavy, old, used typewriter from a police auction and gave it to me as my birthday gift. One might be mistaken for thinking it a strange present to give a four-year old, but for me it was perfect.
I couldn’t even lift the typewriter for the first few years, it was that heavy! But I remember it being my constant companion as I played all sorts of ‘make believes’ like hotels, airlines and radio studios. I wasn’t ever sure that my typewriter had a place in a 70’s radio station – but I didn’t really care.
I reckon I must have nearly worn out that old typewriter, but over the years it gave me hours and hours of fun as I busily created and retyped documents, and without knowing it, developing the fine motor skills required to touch type.
Today I work in an information technology and communications role, and the words flow out of my fingers at 80 words per minute. The legacy of that early typewriter carried with me every day I use my computer.
I don’t know where the typewriter ended up – I’m sure it got thrown out in a move of house somewhere in my teens – but the skill I learned and the memories of my highly astute grandfather will never leave me.
So now, this is my opportunity to say thank you Poppa – for your insight, your awareness and that perfect doorstop Typewriter that gave me a gift I use every day.
I don’t know whether you realised it at the time, but that one gift has had the single biggest impact on my life.
What a gift! Thank you
James
