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MUSINGS ON LIFE
I think; therefore, I muse
 
DIANE HUGHES • NASHVILLE, TN
WRITER, EDITOR, CREATIVE PROFESSIONAL

The typewriter: A Christmas story

12/9/2012

16 Comments

 
On a cold Christmas night, a young girl sits eagerly waiting to take her treasured Christmas gift for a trial run. She inserts a sheet of paper and winds it around the cylinder of a shiny new Brother typewriter. It's the gift she had hoped for since her adolescent eyes first spied it during a visit to the local Western Auto store. 

She stares at the piece of paper. What should she type? A letter to a friend? A list of her favorite Top 40 songs? A birthday wish list? Perhaps a short story?

Slowly, her fingers carefully begin to tap on the keys, pecking out the title to her first work: A Christmas Story. Soon, a holiday vignette — written with the wide-eyed innocence of a 'tween —  emerges onto the page. The story sets a brief scene about gift giving, Christmas decorations, falling snow and sharing the joy of the season with loved ones. 


                           *   *   *   *   *
typewriter
My Brother typewriter. Yes, I still have it.
"A Christmas Story," reads the title on the faded sheet of notebook paper that I have gingerly removed from a small box that sits on my bedside table. As I unfold the creases to reveal the short story inside, I recall the night that I tapped it out on the keys of my brand-new typewriter.

I like to take out the piece of paper from time to time, unfold it and read it again. It demonstrates to me the power of words. Each time I take in those words, I am taken back to a long ago winter night when a little girl used her Christmas gift to create what would become a gift to her older self. And each time I read that Christmas story, I find a sense of comfort in my life choices and the inspiration to keep practicing what I love.

Why did I want the typewriter? I don't clearly remember. Perhaps I fashioned myself a budding writer even then. I remember viewing episodes of The Waltons and wistfully watching as John Boy, the aspiring writer, sat at his window in the evening light putting pen to paper. Back then, I had no way of knowing that writing would be my unique gift and become my life's work. Perhaps my mother saw a gift in me then that I had not yet realized myself. 

Recently, I was flipping through TV channels when a familiar face caught my eye. It was John Walton Jr. himself, after all these years, come to visit me again through the medium of television. Even now, I can hear the familiar refrains of the Waltons wishing each other sweet dreams. 

When I turn out the light on this December night, I will say a silent goodnight to the woman who gave me many gifts, including one that impacted my life in ways I could never have imagined. She was an angel then and is with the angels now.

Goodnight, Mama. Goodnight, writers. Goodnight, readers. Goodnight, everyone.

Is there a Christmas memory from your childhood that still takes you back in time? Did you receive a special Christmas gift that impacted your life? Please share your thoughts in the Comments. 
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16 Comments
Laura Zera link
12/10/2012 07:42:13 am

Sweet. :)

Reply
Diane Hughes link
12/10/2012 09:49:47 am

Thanks for stopping by, Laura! Those cherished childhood memories are the best — and the ones I most like to share.

Reply
Lorene Roberson link
12/11/2012 04:17:25 am

Thanks for writing this, Di. I have many happy memories of my typewriters -- including an electric one, which was a BIG deal then! Remember carbon paper? Oh my, how time flies.

Reply
Diane Hughes link
12/11/2012 05:01:45 am

Carbon paper. Correction tape. Two spaces at the end of a sentence. (The bane of my existence these days when editing press releases and reading blogs.) And don’t forget the ding to alert you to hit return! Glad we could reminisce together. ☺

Reply
Cindy Higdon
12/13/2012 01:30:22 am

This is so beautiful. My eyes are full of tears! You are a delight and I'm so glad you are my daughter-in-law.

Reply
Diane Hughes link
12/13/2012 09:37:31 am

Thank you, Cindy! And I am glad to have you as my "other" mother. :-)

Reply
carin link
12/19/2012 03:03:11 am

Oh, I like this! I'd forgotten about the marvels of typewriters. Hard to fathom white-out now. And carbon paper! Egad. And imagine not being able to move text around? I wonder what we've lost and/or gained in the thinking department. A book written on the typewriter would have to be approached/planned very differently... then again, I seem to recall garbage cans overflowing with balled up pieces of paper. Also throwing same against walls. Doesn't seem so very long ago... (;

Reply
Diane Hughes link
12/20/2012 09:05:11 am

So good of you to drop by, Carin!

Yes! Imagine how much paper we writers have wasted over the years. And, you know, I hadn't really thought about it, but you're right. Writing today, in an era where we can cut and paste, delete and easily start over, I think it leads to approaching the process in a much different way.

Reply
Sherry
12/20/2012 04:53:57 am

Diane,
That is so precious! I loved ready what you wrote about your childhood and your mom. so sweet. I too loved watching the Walton's and watched as JohnBoy would sit and write. I too have so many childhood memories similar to that. I still have my first pastel drawing tablet that my Aunt Sissie gave me at the early age of 8. She is 85 years old now and she is an awesome Artist. She knew when I was a child that I would follow her footsteps with Art.
With Love, Merry Christmas
Sherry

Reply
Diane Hughes link
12/20/2012 09:07:00 am

Hello, Sherry! Isn't it amazing how looking back we can see where we meant to be? I hope you're doing well — and painting up a storm!

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Marion link
12/28/2014 06:50:48 am

I love your blog, Diane! Sorry that I have never left a comment. Your work is full of love and dedication. Feel hugged ! Marion and family.

Reply
Diane Hughes link
12/30/2014 06:20:19 am

Thank you, Marion! So glad you stopped by.

Reply
Rick Jennings link
7/28/2015 01:43:52 pm

Wow. I keep returning to this story and it tugs at my heartstrings every time. Thank you for sharing your marvelous gift. Namaste

Reply
Diane Hughes link
7/28/2015 03:18:54 pm

Rick: It makes my heart glad to know that you are drawn to return and revisit this story. It's one of my favorites. Close to my heart.

Reply
Skip
12/24/2015 03:48:58 pm

Wonderful

Reply
Diane Hughes link
12/24/2015 04:06:31 pm

Thank you, Skip. Merry Christmas to you and Donna. :-)

Reply



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    DIANE HUGHES

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