My Hermes Baby Jubilee typewriter arrived today. I got it on ebay recently ... something I decided to do after reading The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint. The protagonist in that book writes his story on a Hermes. Every bit of his incredibly tragic and ultimately beautiful life. Edgar Mint isn't real, but I can imagine him. I can imagine his Hermes. I can imagine him sitting and typing on his Hermes.
The story caused me to imagine using an Hermes to type my own story. Maybe not my entire life story but parts of it on a good ol typewriter. The kind of manual machine that I actually learned to type on at Actis Junior High in Bakersfield. Boy, did I love typing class.
Much like the piano, when you are learning to type, you're not supposed to look at your fingers or the keys. You're supposed to feel them and and use the sense of touch and senses other than sight to strike them correctly.
Today, I listened to an episode of the Invisibilia podcast that had something quite extraordinary to say about what and how we see. Specifically, the episode talked about blind people. And how if a blind person is left to develop on his or her own accord, the person will intuitively do this thing called clicking, where with the mouth, clicking sounds are made to help measure the distance of things in life. Trees, tables, walls, people. And if the seeing population can withhold fears and low expectations of the blind, the blind are capable of developing into much higher functioning humans than the seeing population might think that they are capable of.
The podcast went on to present an extraordinary idea that the blind can, through intuition and clicking, not only cross busy streets and climb trees independently, but to also develop images in the brain that measure similarly to the images that register in the brains that sighted people have.
Wowwwww!
I wanted to join the hosts of the podcast when they literally went up onto a mountain top (or a tall building) to shout to the world that "You may not need eyes to see."
Ain't it the truth, though? Sometimes it's the visually impaired who see better than those with 20-20 vision. And it makes me wonder ...
What do I see?
How do I hinder or help others to see?
How do others hinder or help me to see?
Fabulous! I am a very small collector of typewriters. Have a couple. My fave is my Miss Underwood. I have always had this in mind, as well.
Can't wait to see your progress! Love and light, Amy
Posted by: Amy Sperry Faldet | January 30, 2015 at 07:22 AM
I've never commented before,though I love your blog and your art. I found this fascinating! I need to look up that podcast.
I was at a library sale yesterday and found a 1960's typewriter manual.Very cool.I have a vintage smith corona.
Posted by: Tracy | January 30, 2015 at 09:12 AM
We have a 1920's Remington and the kids love using it.
It's such an experience to use a machine, congrats on getting yours.
Posted by: Mr. Fox | January 30, 2015 at 11:14 AM
I heard that podcast as well and was impressed not only with his amazing abilities but by his mother's ability to allow him the freedom to ride a bike, or climb a tree or just fall!! Very thought provoking the concept that we limit ourselves by what we believe. Heard it a million times but that was a living example. Love the Hermes!
Posted by: lindi stevenson | January 30, 2015 at 11:22 AM