Probably Kidding

            My Grandma always mentioned getting the typewriter working again.   Every time I climbed on top of the loft bed in the office that used to be my uncle’s bedroom to play around with the keys, she would say that it would work if only she could find a ribbon for it.   She would then go on to talk about her time in school and how she had to take a test when she wanted to be a secretary.   In order to be even considered for a job, she had to be able to type a certain number of words per minute.   She could have gone to college, she did well in high school and even won a scholarship, but her family was not wealthy.   Besides, college was boring, more school.   Joining the workforce, being a secretary in Manhattan was glamorous, much better than the other two options afforded female professionals in those days, a nurse (gross, blood) or a teacher (gross, children).             I know now that while the numbers were fairly limited, there were jobs afforded to w