The following was written by my late wife Elaine. She wrote a long book, a diary really, from which this is one passage:
In the middle of my “college days,” before going to the campus of Mary Washington College, and while fitting in extension classes, another blessed event occurred for us:
Erik Alfred Blakeslee was born on April 3, 1968, at Fauquier Hospital, at 3:06 p.m.; Dr. John Denton delivered Erik. What a surprise to see we had a redhead!
Erik was the biggest of our newborns, 8 lbs. 11 ozs.
When Erik was one day old, I saw nurses crying, and later I found out that Martin Luther King was assassinated that day. This was another national tragedy for our country, less than five years after the Assassination of President Kennedy.
When Erik was still a baby, I found a temporary summer job to help out with bills, and answered an ad for a full-time secretary in a trademark attorney’s office at Crystal City (near Dave’s office). I went for an interview and it was then that the attorney learned I’d only be available for the summer. He didn’t sound interested in a temporary employee, so I told him that I could type 100 words per minute.
He said, “Show me!”
So, he brought me a letter off his desk, asked me to type a copy of it, which I did, fast, with no errors. He said, “You’re hired, for as long as you can stay.”
So, I rode in with Dave every day, and our regular babysitter consented to help me out for the summer. Besides taking dictation and taking care of his correspondence, Mr. K. would sometimes ask me to go out on work time to nearby stores (at Crystal City they were all in a mall, underground), and write down names of colors of cosmetics, especially lipsticks; Revlon was one of his clients, and the names of colors were protected by trademark laws.
At the end of the summer near my leaving date, Mr. Kugler asked me if I could stay on, but I couldn’t.
At Christmas, a few months later, he sent a Christmas card with his wife’s and his names printed, and wrote this by hand: “Mrs. Blakeslee, Getting your card and the picture of you and your family makes me stop working and reflect that meeting and knowing you has been one of the nicest experiences I have ever had. While this note is directed to you, the rest of the card is to your family. Fred K.”
Isn’t that nice! That High School of Commerce shorthand and typing training has paid off in my life every single time I’ve used it for a meal ticket.
To be continued…
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About the Author: RD Blakeslee is a nonagenarian in West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.
“That High School of Commerce shorthand and typing training has paid off in my life every single time I’ve used it for a meal ticket.” – Elaine
As a college education increasingly departs from useful applications, trade schools are “fashionable” again.
Indeed, Dave. By the way, large tech corporations no longer require college diplomas for employment as long as you can demonstrate your knowledge (even if self-taught). Last year my son (at age 25) was hired by a Fortune 30 tech company to a six-figure position despite being a high school drop out and never spending a day in university. All of his technical skill (in coding, computer software, and server hardware) was learned on his own, both at home and working for smaller tech companies who also valued knowledge and skill over diplomas.
Great news, Len. Congratulations to him!
I remember as he went through the usual adolescent doldrums, he was thinking short-order cooking.
I remember your son posting on here Len, and you said you hoped he was in class.
Thank you Mr. Dave for sharing with us.
You’re welcome, bill.
I, too, could type 100 words per minute. I won a portable typewriter at high school graduation. Unfortunately, I was a little later to the program, and secretaries were being overtaken by computers. I still cringe watching some people use a keyboard.
Loved the photos, Dave. Merry Christmas!
Thanks, Gee!
Merry rest of the Christmas day to you, too!