[PaQSO] QSL & 73, Sam

[Glenn O'Donnell, K3PP]

That's a beautiful, poignant story, Pete! This little note is what ham 
radio is all about!  Bravo!

You should submit this for the correspondence collection in the front of 
QST.

VY 73 de Glenn K3PP

TwelveVDC at aol.com wrote:
>   Yesterday, (Saturday) I received an envelope from my QSL Bureau that 
> contained exactly one (1) card.  It was from CT1EEN, Sam Pimenta who I worked on 20m 
> PSK on Dec. 27, 2004.  Over the label in his handwriting it says, "73 de Sam" 
> and then initialed with a fancy,"SP."
>
>   I opened the envelope while sitting in the car with my daughter as we 
> waited for my wife to run into the supermarket for milk.  She wanted to examine the 
> card too, because it bore a beautiful photograph of the setting sun over an 
> ocean horizon, and was curious where it came from.  I love when she asks good 
> questions because it allows me to expand on things like geography, so I 
> explained the wealth of information a typical good QSL card offers.  She was 
> surprised it took over two years to arrive, but hams know that's not unusual.
>
>   The reason I remember this contact is because I was working on my WAS (all 
> PSK), and had only 5 to go when I was interrupted by the DX station who was 
> amused that I was looking for stateside only, when I had a true 599 RST into an 
> evolving mini European pileup.
>
>   You see, the ARRL was offering a special award for accomplishing WAS during 
> the calendar year 2004 to commemorate it's 90th anniversary, and the 
> procrastinator that I am, decided to begin this effort on December 7, leaving me to do 
> this in 25 days.  I really didn't think it would be so hard, but #49 & 50 
> wouldn't go into the log until Dec. 31st.!  (RI & MA)  I didn't want to work DX 
> until my mission was accomplished.
>
>   Every week or so I upload everything I work into ARRL's Logbook Of The 
> World. (LOTW)  This is more for others than me, because I already have DXCC 
> hanging on the wall.  But if I get a real paper card from anyone, I return one the 
> same way theirs arrive.  So I sat here smiling, filling out Sam's card after 
> looking up the contact, flooded with the memory of that great effort as time was 
> running out, and being called by Sam while trying desperately to find 
> stations in New England.
>
>   To spare him some anguish, I figured I'd treat him to a direct reply since 
> he obviously needed my card; explaining that his had just arrived.  Being over 
> two years old, I should not rely on the card's printed address when 
> up-to-date information is readily available on line at QRZ.com.  What I read would 
> occupy my thoughts for the rest of the weekend.
>
>   I discovered that Sam had tragically become a SK in July 2005, only 7 
> months after that 20m contact.  Someone kindly posted this information and a loving 
> tribute to his memory there.  It seems he enjoyed a wonderful following, and 
> had earned his credentials as an accomplished contester and IOTA DXpeditioner.
>
>   I've never knew him so it's hard to explain why, but I'm saddened that he 
> will never receive the only thing he ever asked from me in return for his final 
> courtesy.  His QSL card is special to me for this reason.
>
>   QSL and 73, Sam
>
>   Pete / NL7XM
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