Hi Mum,

It’s Sunday, I’m sitting here typing to you with my right thumb.  

Who would have thought it? 

I’m balancing a tiny computer called an iPhone, in my left hand and tapping away at a flat screen with letters of the alphabet in my interchangeable choice of font. 

Do you remember when we went round to Auntie Connie’s to buy her typewriter?  I would have been around 13 at the time, you 43.  I remember it as clear as day, as if it were last week.  Do you remember Mum?

Auntie Connie wasn’t my real auntie, she was Dad’s uncle’s wife but to me and Myles, she was Auntie Connie.

She was a larger than life character, her bubbliness was very infectious and her positive outlook on life impressed me.

She was also very direct.

‘Get those shoulders back.’ She instructed that morning. She had noticed I had quite rounded shoulders and would sit slumped sometimes or walk with a slight stoop.

‘You might not have much up top, but chest out and shoulders back.’ She’d encourage.

I didn’t take offence at her blunt directness in fact quite the opposite, I was a little embarrassed at first that’s true, but I became more self aware after that, I appreciated her observation. She was right, I did slouch, my rounded shoulders meant my flat chest wasn’t the first thing you saw coming towards you, it was hidden beneath a vest, t shirt and jumper. 

Ideally beneath a bomber jacket or a coat too.

On arrival, our coats were politely taken and hung up on a hat stand next to the front door.

Auntie Connie was selling her typewriter and I was so excited to be able to buy it off her.  She had excellent secretarial skills and her WPM were off the scale.  When she demonstrated, I could swear I saw smoke coming off the ink ribbons.  She wanted £15 for it.

I bought it with my own money and went on to write many short stories and songs on it over the following years.  I loved replacing the black and red ribbons myself and clicking away at the keys on the kitchen table while you made tea.  

I wrote poems for the school paper and was rewarded with a Mars Bar each month.

My last typewritten piece was in 1992.  It was a song I wrote on the piano called ‘We All Unite.’ It was about saving the planet and ending world poverty.

You thought it was catchy but a bit heavy.

‘I don’t know where you get it all from.’ You  said while mashing your spuds in the pan.  

You always took your wedding ring off to mash spuds didn’t you Mum?

I always noticed the little things.  I used to think you and Dad were divorced when you were mashing potatoes.

I always checked to see if you were wearing it again as we sat down at the dinner table.  Sometimes you’d leave it on the window sill until you’d finished washing up, I felt a warm feeling when you always put it back on again.

I know where your wedding ring is but I don’t remember what happened to my typewriter, perhaps I sold it on, maybe I gave it away, I wonder where it is now?

I might not type as fast as Auntie Connie but I did grow into a busty C Cup like hers.

She might be up there with you now, watching me type with one thumb and walking into the kitchen with my shoulders back and chest out.

I hope so, It’s a Sunday though, so no bra.

I hope she won’t mind.

Love as always,

Queen x

05/12/2021