[Hammarlund] HCI Salutes Mothers On Sunday Net

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

All vintage gear is always welcome -   	
	
I am going to stretch the rules a little with what follows. After all, if it
were not for our mothers, none of us would be checking into the Sunday May 12th
HCI 20 meter Net to begin with. It was their generation that gave us the golden
age of radio and opened the window to let the new technology shine through and
illuminate the hobby of Amateur Radio.	
	
Join me for the pre-Net at 12:30 PM EDT, (1630 UTC). The Net officially
commences at 1:15 PM EDT, (1715 UTC). The frequency will be 14.293 Mhz usb +/-
for key clicks, mike splatter and the unmistakable sound of cash registers
ringing like a mad musician trying to play "The Bumble Boogie" (B. Bumble And
The Stingers) on a set of mistuned Cow bells as frantic males try to bpurchase
flowers at the last possible moment! 	
	
I know that some of you have recently lost your beloved mothers and I hope what
follows will bring a smile to your heart as moist tears fall with priceless
memories.	
	
Duane Fischer, W8DBF	
NCS: Hallicrafters Collectors International   	
netcontrol@w9wze.org	
	
                  Hey!  What About Us Kids?


                                        By, duane B. Fischer


     Before we sit down to dinner,  there are a few things
that I would like to say in regard to Mother's Day.

     First, if it wasn't for us kids there wouldn't be a
Mother's Day to celebrate.  We created it, not the florists
and card shops, and I think that we deserve to get some
respect for it.  Furthermore, it is about time that mother's
recognized just how very fortunate they are to have us as
children.  After all, we made them what they are today.

     We taught them how to hold their breath for five minutes
while changing a smelly diaper.  How not to gag when we
breathed stale milk fumes into their nostrils while batting
our eyes and slobbering all over their clean clothes.  We
taught them the fine art of decorating ourselves, and the
walls, with everything from simple baby shit to complex
paints like mustard and permanent markers.  We showed them
how to stay awake all night and read story books to soothe
themselves.  We instructed them in the communication skills
of screaming at full volume for two hours about nothing in
particular.  How to use cosmetics to hide the bags under
their eyes that came from too much excitement.  Hey, don't
blame us if you couldn't sleep.  We did.

     There were all of those lessons on life that we taught
you also.  Like how to get by with one pair of shoes, a
couple of mended dresses and yard sale bargains.  It was
called being practical.  Don't blame us because we wore the
latest fashions.  What did you expect us to do, run around
butt naked?  It isn't our fault that they tore so easily and
got all of those mysterious stains on them.  You could have
just bought more.  You didn't have to spend all of those
hours washing, ironing and mending.  But I guess that it gave
you something to do with your idle time.  You know, that
extra five minutes just after drying the last plate and
before feeding the dog.

     We taught you other things too.  Like how to share.  We
freely shared our diseases, problems and complaints with you.
You got some valuable training in health care, crisis
management and psychological counseling thanks to us.  Things
you could use to get a part time job with so that you could
pay us an allowance.  Remember that?  The weekly money that
we got for doing chores that we should have done for free.
But, it did help you learn how to manage your time and
finances better.  Come on now.  What was really more
important?  That fancy new ten speed bicycle for us or that
hair cut for you.  Thanks to us you learned how to make do
with what you had and to be thankful for it.  Being satisfied
with what you had helped to cultivate humility.  It was an
important lesson in life.  You learned it well.

     We taught you how to accept criticism without becoming
angry or resentful.  We showed you how to say please, thank
you and I'm sorry even when you were not.  It was called
being polite.  Remember how you smiled and were courteous
when our friends were rude and nearly demolished the house?
Remember that kid who used to swear so much?  Was it really
an accident when you claimed to slip on the bottle of pop
that he poured on the new carpet?  He sure had a funny look
on his face when you accidentally shoved that bar of soap in
his mouth!

     I could go on for many hours talking about all of the
things that we taught you.  But the Mother's Day dinner that
you fixed for us would get cold.  Remember how you learned to
eat every bean and pea on your plate?  Maybe it is the light
in here, but your hair does look a little gray.  Are those
wrinkles on your face?  You should try to get more rest and
take better care of yourself.  I'm glad that we could all be
here today to help you celebrate Mother's Day.  I know that
you appreciate all that we have done for you over the years.
Don't worry Mom, we will all be back here next year so that
you can fix us dinner again.  Mom?  What are you doing?  Stop
shouting Mom.  Please get down off the table.  Alright, we
will take you out to dinner next Mother's Day.  Put the
chocolate cake down Mom.  Don't throw it on the floor like
you did the mashed potatoes.  Yes I'll buy you a card, just
stop flinging buttered peas at me with the fork.  Ouch!
Don't squirt that juice from the turkey at me with the
baster. It is hot.  Put it down and calm yourself.  Of course
I will do the dishes Mom.  Anything you say.  Just stop
pulling my hair!  Appreciate you?  Of course I do.  Yes I'll
apologize for being so thoughtless. Just get the pepper
shaker out from under my nose before I sneeze my brains
loose.  Alright, I'll say it.  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM!  Now,
please, let go of my ear WITH THE METAL TONGS.

to my mother, Mertys L. Fischer, on Mother's Day May 9, 1993.
Mother's Day was made a national holiday in 1914 by president
Woodrow Wilson.