[CW] The last amateur

[Larry Makoski W2LJ]

K0HB wrote:

>You know, Larry, if I thought my message described the "norm", I wouldn't
>even bother sending it.  
>
>I've been a ham for going on 50 years, and I agree that the overwhelming
>number of us don't resemble Joe in the least.  I think most will recognize
>my message as a parody of a very small number of "Joe-like" people who we
>all know exist.  It's a wonder to me why people seem to defend this small
>number of curmudgeons, giving them credence all out porportion to their
>numbers.
>
>  
>

Hans,

Okay, I get it now.  I took your satire the wrong way and thought you 
were trying to make a point that there were more "Joes" out there than 
there actually are.

I live up here in the NorthEast.  I know we have a reputation throughout 
the rest of the country as being a kind of fast talking, smarta$$, 
arrogant kind of people.  In many cases that reputation is deserved.  
But I have to tell you, in all my years of Amateur Radio, I have never 
met more than 1 or 2 "Joes".  I have found the "Joes" in my Ham world to 
be way more the exception rather than the rule, which you might think of 
as odd considering the reputation we have up here.

I have had my share of run ins with curmudgeons.  But these guys were 
curmudgeons on the outside rather than the inside.  Inside they had 
hearts of gold. One in particular, I will remember till my dying day.  
The curmudgeon I speak of was Jules Kardos, WV2O.  Jules, who is now an 
SK, is probably spinning in his grave right now, with the announcement 
of the elimination of the Morse Code exams, he loved the mode that 
dearly.  But when someone came to him with an interest in learning Morse 
Code, his eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas!  He was one of the most 
encouraging, positive guys you would ever want to meet.  And the fact 
that a Ham might have been a No-Code Tech didn't change his demeanor.  
He was a gentleman to all Hams - the No-Code ones he was even MORE 
positive to - trying to convince them that learning the code would give 
them hours of enjoyment they couldn't even begin to dream of.

Fortunately,  the only "Joes" that I ever met were far and few between.  
I guess I've been outstandingly lucky in my Ham career.

73 de Larry W2LJ

-- 
Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!

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