01/03/2007 | W3CRR My grandmother, whose maiden name was Beth Bunnell, taught me Morse code when I was a little boy. She also gave me a dusty old Western Union telegraphers key made by the company owned by her great uncle, Jesse Bunnell. Thus began both my lifelong affection for CW and my modest collection of J.H. Bunnell keys. Strange, then, that in my 40-year ham career, Id never participated in Straight Key Night. It seems that other events always took precedence on New Years Eve dates, family obligations, military service, the kids, job duties. Finally this year, however, I was able to squeeze in a few SKN contacts, and what fun they were!

Every SKN QSO was enjoyable, but the two Heathkit-related ones were especially nice. From Erie, Pennsylvania Kevin, KE3V, made excellent use of his HW-9s three watts and from the Cleveland area Gary, AF8A, remembered the Chagrin Boulevard Heathkit store in which I worked many years ago. I also had a very nice wrist-busting 20-WPM chat with Greg, N2AGI, and a more leisurely visit with the rhythmically called Tom, KG4KGY. Then there was the momentary thrill of the CQ return from Bob, KL7NL who it turns out USED to live in Anchorage, but is now a slash-4 in North Carolina (and a heckuva a nice guy).

Next year I hope to return for even more SKN activities. This time, perhaps, Ill devote a different Bunnell key to each contact. Now THAT will be a blast! Thanks, Grandma.

73,

Craig -- W3CRR