N9AFU Michael R. 'Mike' Burdett Lake Station, IN QCWA # 36418 Chapter 36

My Dad was a ham, as was my great grandfather, so there was never a time in my early life, that there was not a Ham Shack in my house. Not only that, but in my neighborhood in Northwest Indiana, there were at least 5 hams in the neighborhood. I had a shock when I first started school. Some of the kids had no idea what Ham Radio was....I did..... and I was only 6....so now you know why I am a Ham...unfortunately, it took me becomming a young adult to actually get off my butt and get a license, which happened shortly after I was married in 1976....I am sure my happy memories of sitting on my Dad's lap in the mid fifties, talking on the local Saturday rag chew, was a fond memory I wanted my children to share, in their young lives. Plus, it was always warm in Dad's Ham Shack back in the 50's!!! You can guess why.

I also became a professional musician ( as well as a professional electronics technician ), and Ham Radio took a back seat as I toured the country with the Jimmie Van Zant Band ( of the Lynard Skynard family ). I did'nt work much radio during that time, something I wish I had done now, but there was something else on my mind at the time, like where my next meal would come from for instance.

Well, here I am now , an old man, with Grandchildren...But Grandpa is still in a band, and still a Ham, and I still can rock and roll....in both endeavors!

It is a pleasure to be on the air with you fellow Hams....

...gimme a call sometime...we'll do lunch.

73 es best DX

October 28, 2015