[SFDXA] 2.5 More Years of CW

[Bill]

 From the CWops List:

  From Mike Duke, K5XU:
Dan’s story about 2.5 years more for CW operating VS dementia reminded 
me of a QSO I had about 30 years ago.
I was living in an apartment, and running a much beloved, very well 
used, Yaesu FT7 with an almost hidden multi-band dipole called a “Mor-Gain.”
One Saturday morning I answered a CQ on 10 meters from a very strong, 
obviously local operator whose call I did not recognize,
. He was sending at around 15 WPM, so I replied at his speed.
During the QSO, I learned that he was in his mid-80s, and lived about a 
half mile from me, thus the strong signal.
He asked me if I could give him the address for the W5 QSL bureau.
I did not have the address, but told him I would get it and call him on 
the phone.
He gave me his number, and we signed.

Later that morning, I got the address from another local on 2 meters, 
then called him.
“Please give it to me slowly,” he said. “I have to pay close attention 
when I write things down over the phone.”
He read the address back to me correctly, and then said:

“I don’t work phone any more on the radio, only slow speed CW. I can no 
longer process information very quickly, and cannot think fast enough to 
have an intelligent qso on phone.
I still do fine with conversations on CW as long as people answer me 
near my sending speed.”

We never met, but crossed paths on 10 and 15 meter CW a few more times 
before he became a silent key about 2 years later.
That candid explanation of his slower sending speed has remained with me 
ever since.
Mike Duke, K5XU
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