True Ham Radio Love Story

If you are wondering how ham radio can be tied to a real live love story, the kind between a man and a woman, then read on. This won't be anything you would find in a Harlequin novel, so don't get your hopes up. It is, in fact, about how love in action speaks louder than all the words of this, or any other short story.

So, guys, go get your XYL, YL or SO (Significant Other) and sit down and read this together, you'll at least get some brownie points, and who knows, you may even get a new rig out of the deal!

Let me start by telling you my long love of ham radio began at age 14 with an HW-16, straight key, one crystal, light bulb dummy load and a dipole in the trees. This was quite typical of a novice station in the 70's and for a teenager with only a part time job. By the time I got through high school, the military, college, GI Bill, I had graduated to an HW-101. My Hot Water rigs were very faithful through all those times and there were no regrets.

Fast forward a bit and I find myself newly married to the girl of my dreams, new modest house with not so modest mortgage, harmonic on the way, and my faithful HW-101 was just not keeping up with all the new "digital readout" rigs coming on the scene. I had never had a "store bought" rig before. I started shopping around all the while knowing that "HF Radio" wasn't going to get a line item in our budget!

Then I saw it. My friend Richard had an Icom 735 for sale and it was in mint shape, six months old, and $750. I negotiated for a week to get it to $700 not knowing where I was going to get the money, but kept on anyway. Then he told me. I'll never forget it. "Marty," he said, "Someone else has bought the 735, sorry you are too late. You should have agreed to the $750." I was mad, but relieved at the same time taking it as a sign I had no business dickering for a radio I couldn't afford.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I had made a few vague illusions that I was interested in a new HF rig. I was admonished quickly and sternly about our financial priorities. "Besides," she said, " your birthday is coming up and I want to be able to buy you a present." "Okay," I replied sheepishly.

A few months later I celebrated my first birthday as a new father. After a lovely dinner I was presented a birthday cake with a frosting picture of an HF radio on it. I lamented to myself about the lost opportunity with the 735 a while back, but kept quiet as not to diminish any gifts by wishing that the frosting picture were a REAL rig!

What happened next is only a blur. My present appeared in lovely paper with a very nice card. I obligingly opened the card and smiled and said, "thank you, how lovely." She said, "Well, open your present!" As I tore the paper I saw a green and white box with the letters "IC-735" in bold print. "How did Richard's radio get here?" I said in disbelief. "It's yours now!" my lovely and gracious XYL exclaimed.

My XYL had gone and bought the 735 out from under me! And my friend Richard was in on the trick! She would not reveal to me how she possibly knew I was negotiating for this radio. She just reminded me to stay away from trouble, as she knows more than I think she does! Yikes!

This has been, and is presently, my one and only HF rig since then. It's a great rig and I've enjoyed it immensely. As good as it is (and it IS good) it's not up to today's standards. Here's my question. What, if any, would be a good reason to sell it? Or should that NEVER be a consideration? Remember it has proudly been top banana in my shack for almost 17 years now.