Wow, what an amazing SS weekend!  I started out with the flu the night before, which meant I slept most of the day Saturday.  I ended up starting 3-4 hours late.  This became a blessing in disguise, as my screwed-up sleep schedule allowed me to stay awake and active well into the night Saturday and into the early hours of Sunday morning, picking up many sections on 40M, including some of the rarer ones.  I guess at that time of night, even 50W into modest wire antennas can be competitive. 

In the later hours on Sunday, many stations on the spotting networks were crying "Where is KY?"  Messages went out on the KYHAM email list that KY was in demand,  and encouraged KY stations to get out and participate.  Soon other KY stations started showing up on the bands and handing out clean sweeps.

I met several goals this weekend:  Worked all states, I got my first ever clean sweep, and I made 200 contacts, which was a personal best for this small-time casual contester. 

However, all of that paled in comparison to the moment on Sunday afternoon when I answered a youth at a school station calling "CQ SS, Looking for KY."  I answered and gave my exchange...there was a long pause, and the youngster came back, practically overflowing with excitement:  "Kentucky..THANK YOU FOR THE CLEAN SWEEP!" 

That was a priceless moment, one I won't forget.