Thank You Mrs. Jaklic!

Mrs. Connie Jaklic was my eleventh grade Accounting and Computing teacher. She was the most influential teacher in my life. She doesn't know this.

Accounting and Computing was a two year vocational program. Lessons were taught in bookkeeping and general things you needed to know to work in an office, like typing, use of adding machines, letter writing etc. The only thing in the world that I hated more than typing was math (but the Pittsburgh Steelers came close). Connie made us type every single day of eleventh grade. 

What did I equate typing to? Thirty lashes with a whip. Except it didn't hurt my body, it hurt my mind.

Today, I am forever grateful to Connie for teaching me how to type. The obvious is typing's relationship to the computer, the Internet and communications. But my appreciation transcends the obvious. It's about a connection between my soul, my fingertips and my writing. Maybe it's like playing music.

I think playing music would be like transporting a song from your soul to the world through your fingertips. Or maybe your soul is in your fingertips.  Eleventh grade dave would've thought its 2009 model had lost his mind. But 2009 dave loves to write through his fingertips on the computer. Or he loves it when his soul escapes his body through his fingertips to dance about in the world.

Connie Jaklic was not my most favorite and influential teacher because she taught me to type. That's another story. But it does add to the legend.

If my story here finds its way to a friend, relative or associate of Connie, PLEASE ask her if she wouldn't mind contacting me. I'd love to tell her about the difference she's made in my life.

Comments

[Ruth Radney]

I loved this post, Dave! I relate to so much of what you wrote. The "home row" is aptly named, because I feel at home when my fingers touch those keys.

[Dave Rothacker]

Hey Ruth, I'm glad to hear that you feel this way too. I love the physical act of writing too. While I love getting the stuff that's inside, out into the world, I most definitely do not enjoy doing it through talking to people - talking with people is cool.