Random Skip de DR
This weekend I had grandson Gabe and guess what he wanted to do?
You already know. Let's get on the air with "our" transmitter, “Pawpaw”.
After fixing the power supply we set up
a QSO with Duke who assured us
everything sounded fine. Then a few CQ's
on 3525 kHz around noon local time. To
our amazement back came N4EDE in
Catharpin, Virginia and we had a nice
QSO. It was like reliving my very first
QSO on January 10, 1950 when as a 15
year old, W3TVA, answered one of my CQ's.
I was using the exact same crystal and
the same J-38 straight key and perhaps
the same 6L6 tube. It was great to
relive that moment. The other two QSOs
we made were prearranged so in a sense
this was really the first one. There
have been hundreds of great minutes in
the 60 years since then, but I could
compare this one to my first kiss with a
14-year-old named Betty Lou. Now if I
can just instill that same wonder and
excitement in Gabe I think that the set
of goals I made for myself a few years
ago will be almost complete.
Since that JT1CO QSO on
Top Band in December it no longer seems
so important to get up before sunrise
every morning. Too bad the VU2's are
still compelling me to listen regularly
around their sunrise our evening time. I
guess it is good to never be completely
satisfied. I hope all of my readers are
still finding the wonder and excitement
of reaching out and touching someone
else on whatever band or mode you
choose. And oh, don't forget that first
kiss. It probably wasn't with the guy or
gal you are with now but the memory
helps you to understand the analogy.
Bob W4DR
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