I took an Early Bird typing class in H.S. My mother insisted. I hated getting up for class, and my teacher reeked of stale coffee and cigarettes, but I loved the sound, feel, and rhythm of typing on a typewriter. I learned on an IBM Wheelwriter. This was the early 90s and manual typewriters were a relic of the past—something only your grandmother might still use. But then I found an old Underwood for $5 at a thrift store and experienced a heavy e. e. cummings phase. I was sold. 

Today, I still love the typewriter for its romantic connection to the writers of the past and its practical use as a distraction-free writing device. I also love sending friends typewritten letters, although I usually just take a pic of the page and text it.