At an early age visits to the MARS station, K2USA at Fort Monmouth, N.J. impressed a young kid, talking to others around the world with radios on the desk and antennas out in the back—wow! Collins equipment was so beautiful—glowing lights and dials. Soldering a HeathKit Crystal Radio kit and listening to local AM stations was very cool. Then I discovered after dark I could tune in KSL radio in Salt Lake City from New Jersey from my little AM tabletop radio. Stations all over the country were there every night to explore. A giant vintage 40’s Philco console radio in my grandmother’s living room, where you could tune in Radio Moscow, the BBC and Radio Tahiti—awesome. Then graduating to a beautiful Drake SPR-4 shortwave receiver, and the hook was set. In 1977 passing the Novice exam and getting my own call sign, WB6VJX, upgrading and a new call, KD6NR. What an amazing hobby!

Then it came to a screeching halt, six years later in 1982, when marriage and work commitments put ham radio way on the back burner.29 years later, in 2011, after a long career graphic designing for high technology companies, a visit to my local doctor's clinic, waiting for my tests, I saw a QST in the waiting room and picked it up. Wow, they still do that—it was fun back in the day. Well, here we go again. I later found out that the local ham store had “planted” QST magazines at the hospital to “nudge” us old timers back into the fold. I after all, do appreciate guerrilla marketing.

In late 2011 upgrading to Extra Class License and new call sign.

Am having a blast DXing again, and working with the Mountain View ARES. QSOs can be so much fun and CW is very exotic!

Thank you ham radio, a very fulfilling hobby.

DXCC Mixed #21,355

DXCC CW #1,575

WAS #30,137

73, George