Mike ve2xb/w1

Hello--All:

First of all, with 2013 just around the corner, it's time to reflect on how I got started in ham radio some 30 + years ago. Actually, it goes back earlier to my Elmer, Bill Still, W2GJR/VE2 (SK- RIP). Bill was a friendly guy on my street back in Dollard des Ormeaux (DDO). He had a zillion antennas on his roof--yagis, loops, verticals, dishes, eggbeaters--and more.

From those beginnings, a friendship ensued and I became Bill's helper. He was divorced with no kids and had lots of errands and chores to do and he gave me a few bucks to help him out. One day, he needed some help cleaning up the basement. When we went downstairs, I saw that it was filled with radios. I mean, it was like being in an airplane cockpit--radios wall-to-wall. I was just 10 years old and was instantly fascinated with the lights and dials of his Collins, Drake and Hallicrafters rigs. Then, while I was cleaning the floor and emptying boxes, he turned on his minty Collins 51J4 and I heard my first sounds of cw. I was hooked after that and did as many odd jobs for Bill just to get a listen here and there of those melodic sounds of cw. After a few weeks, he saw that I was keenly interested in cw and began to teach me code and electronics. And of course, he gave me odd jobs to do-- but only after I listened to the 51J4 and read back to him what I copied from W1AW. I got better and better at my cw and made a few bucks here and there to get tools and supplies to make go-carts-- but none of this would have happened without him nurturing and cultivating my interest in cw and electronics. None of this would have happened without his patience, encouragement and support. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Bubkas.

As we get ready to toast the New Year 2013, I raise a glass to you, Bill, W2GJR/VE2 for inspiring me to study and get my ticket and to Don Dashney (Dot Dash) ve3rm who continued to encourage me by teaching me electronics to Ron Reid, ve2kw (SK-RIP) for teaching me cw.

God bless all the Elmers out there! You may not realize how much of a difference you make in people's lives.

73, dx, god bless

Mike, ve2xb