I am an avid CW operator and especially enjoy high speed (QRQ) CW. However, the thought of dusting off my old hand key and making a few QSO's during "Straight Key Night" was somehow very appealing. I turned off the main lights in the ham shack on New Years Eve and used only a small table lamp for lighting. I called CQ and the memories of years gone by started racing through my mind. When I was 14 years old and living on a small farm near Janesville, Minnesota it was always such a great thrill to have CW QSO's with other hams all across the United States. During the holidays it was nice to be greeted with wishes like "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year". My first CQ during SKN was answered by W1WYS and we had a wonderful QSO. My fist was pretty rough but that was to be expected. However, I thouroughly enjoyed myself. I had three more wonderful QSO's with KO8S, W7WOW and N3HCN. I will be back next year. 80 meter CW was really hopping! 73's to all. 

Mitch