NS7X

I had a grand time today working with middle school and high school students. (Good God! Was I ever THAT young?) I was with a group of amateur radio operators who had set up a demonstration for the kids who attended one of Albuquerque's charter schools. Our ham group had everything from talking to the International Space Station, to packet radio, to communicating around the world.

I, of course, was there amongst all the fancy high-tech radio stuff with my good, old-fashioned, low tech, Morse code key. Suffice it to say, I was not the most popular exhibit, but I think I did hold my own. And I met a few incredible kids with a natural knack for CW (Morse code).

Many of the kids had some pretty profound questions and comments. ("Hey, lady, I've been really hungry for a good doughnut lately.") We talked about the history of Morse code, and why it's still used today. ("Hey, lady, I can't remember the last time I ate a good doughnut.") I explained that CW is simply texting that you can hear. ("Hey, lady, I really love a good doughnut.")

The doughnut kid had apparently noticed (smelled?) a box from Dunkin' Doughnuts which had been stored under my table. I had no idea who brought the doughnuts, that is - whose doughnuts they were - so I opted to ignore the doughnut kid, and his not-so-subtle hints.

I taught several of the kids how to send their name in Morse code. Man, they really loved that! ("Hey, lady, I sure could use a doughnut about now.") There was this one young girl, beautiful girl, named Olivia who took to learning the code like a fish learns to swim. She couldn't get enough of it. ("Hey, lady, did you know that there is a box of doughnuts under your table?")

Well, to make a long story short, there were several kids who really seemed to enjoy learning about modern ham radio communications, including Morse code, and one kid who eventually found the owner of the doughnut box under my table and, according to him, got permission to pick out a doughnut, which made that kid very happy.

It was a long day for me, and at the end of the day I packed up my gear anxious to get home and take a nice long nap. But, I had one final encounter with one of the students. "Hey, lady, mind if I give my girlfriend a doughnut?"