[ARC5] Receivers & Daughters

[Michael Tauson]

Hi, Folks,

Part one is the easy one.  One of my recent acquisitions was an A.R.C.
Type 12 R-10, s/n 226.  What makes this receiver of particular
interest is that it was apparently built up on a Type K-derived
(probably ARC-5) chassis since there is a hole in the back where the
receptacle for the rack connector would go.  Instead, there is a cap
on the hole to fill the space. Also of interest is that the CAA Type
Certificate number was painted over implying the receiver was no
longer considered airworthy.

Along with this R-10, I have an R-11, s/n 7059, which has a rack
connector in back and the locking pins in front in place of the snap
slide assembly.  The connector only has a few pins wired (I'd have to
open it up again to find out which ones since I've forgotten.) but
it's a decent fit and not done all that badly.

I wonder if there was ever a T.O. to modify Type 12 receivers to fit
ARC-5 racks.  Any thoughts?

Part two of this is a bit more difficult.  Some of you know that my
daughter is ill.  Of them, a smaller number know just how ill.  For
the rest, the short and bitter is that, barring a miracle, I'm going
to outlive her.  Parents, even adoptive parents, are not supposed to
bury their children.  It's a violation of the natural order.  I think
I understand why God put us together but the part I don't understand
is why He's taking her from me so soon.  She is the center of my life
and, in a life notable by its really bad moves, adopting her was the
best thing I ever did.

Noelle is a fighter, one of many things I admire about her.  She won't
give an inch she's not forced to and contests even that to the best of
her ability.  No matter how great the pain, and it is intense at
times, giving up is just not in her nature.  She also won't let me see
her as she is now, preferring I remember as she was – a lively and
active girl who could have been a supermodel had her life gone a
different direction.  I understand why; she has her pride and, much as
it hurts not to be with her, I respect her wishes.  But she knows I'm
always with her in spirit and that, were it even remotely possible, I
would gladly take her pain and weakness and everything else on myself
rather than have her suffer from them.

Of course, she has Daddy wrapped around her little finger as tightly
as possible, such is the province of daughters, and I love every
second of it & spoil her rotten in retaliation … such is the province
of fathers.  When we can talk, whether it be by IM, email or phone (I
have a number local to her so she can call without incurring toll
charges.), it is a blessing that doesn't happen often enough.

I love doing things for her and, since she's stated a preference for
Daddy-made things, I've been sketching some do-nothing machines that
do so in particularly spectacular & enthusiastic ways intended to make
her smile and, even if for a moment, take her mind off the pain.
Since I've been interested in machines as long as I have electronics,
which is over half a century, I have studied mechanical engineering, I
have a small but meaningful (and, with three watchmaker's lathes
included, precision) machine shop, and I have a sense of humor that
wanders from whimsical to outrageous, I'm going to have as much fun
building these creations as I hope she does watching them do
absolutely nothing useful except, hopefully, make her smile.

So, what does this mean in the Grand Order of Things?  It means that
my priorities are Noelle, Noelle, and the book on A.R.C..  I won't
stop working on it and doing all I can to make it as complete and
accurate as possible – it's my escape from the "here and now" which
affords me some peace – and I won't stop trying to build replicas of
extinct sets to take pictures of them (and hopefully have them work)
and I won't give up my quest for various pieces needed for the rest of
the displays.  On the other hand, my attention and funds are directed
first to Noelle which reduces my ability to purchase items of interest
plus means I probably come across as "distracted" on the lists.  If I
manage to irritate anyone or seem like I'm your basic dunce in areas I
really do know, so be it.  They're not intentional.

Best regards,

Michael, WH7HG