Lesson learned ... learning to type

The reprimand was swift. It was the beginning of class—Typing 101. I slipped a piece of paper into the typewriter, set my fingers in position on the keyboard and started typing.

It wasn't long before I hit the wrong key too many times and allowed frustration to get the better of me. I grabbed the sheet of paper and yanked it out of the typewriter, crumpled it in my hands, and threw it down on my desk.

Before it landed, I heard my name.

The instructor was not pleased. She directed me to retrieve the paper, flatten it out, and roll it back into the typewriter.

She admonished me for treating the typewriter poorly and took offense at the wasted paper.

Any satisfaction I felt hearing the zip of the roller as I whipped the paper out of the machine (or crumpling it) was gone.

Lesson learned.

Since then, I've learned to love typing ... and respect my machine.

Friday is National Typewriter Day.

How's your typing? Manual typewriters may be relics, but learning to type is a skill worth mastering.

Do you hunt and peck at the keys, or are you able to type with all ten fingers ... without looking?

Occasionally, I test my typing proficiency at TypingTest.com. Speed is important, but accuracy matters, too. This morning I topped out in the "Fast" level, "Professional" continues to elude.

If you're looking to learn to type with all ten fingers or improve your typing skills, TypingTest.com is a good place to start.