KG6EBT
Long story, but it goes something like this. I had the opportunity to borrow and study a book that was all about the rules and regulations of operating an amateur radio. I didn't own a radio. I didn't even really want to talk on a radio. But I had applications for college to fill out and scholarships to apply for and Laurel projects to complete and boys to impress (turns out, the only boys that are impressed by amateur radio are over sixty). What could it hurt to take one more test?
The test was at a fire station. When I walked into the room where it was being administered, everyone seated must have been quadruple my age....and male. By the looks on their faces, I'm sure they all thought I was lost. Anyway, I took the test, regurgitated everything I had memorized from the book, and was the first of the group to finish. I handed it to the proctor and he told me he could grade it there on the spot to see if I had passed. I was fine with that. The complete astonishment on his face when he was through checking my answers is one I'll never forget. He handed it back to me with a 100% and announced my score to the rest of the group there. Sheesh, guys. Don't be quite SO shocked! Their surprise was starting to veer on the side of insulting. The book really did tell us everything that would be on the test. Well, they all decided for me that I should take the next test so I could have even more on-air privileges, whatever that means. Because the proctor was already there, I wouldn't have to pay for it. Well, over-confident little me............ I failed that test miserably! Morse code and how to build a radio???....my book didn't cover THAT stuff! ;)
After getting my license, NOT the fancy upgraded license, my dad helped me cut out this lovely little wood thing so I could always have it to put on my desk to remember. This is another one of those special items I keep in my cedar chest. My favorite color was blue at the time, but after my experience with all those men at that firehouse, there was not question in my mind that this HAD to be painted PINK!
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