In 1977, I had to learn morse to get my Novice ticket. I had no clue how to do that. So I guessed, and took my best shot.
By today's standards, I did everything the wrong way. All I had was an old Hallicrafters receiver, a printed chart of the code, a home made code practice oscillator, and a really cheap straight key I got from Radio Shack. But I heard those signals, knew what they were, and I REALLY wanted to know what those guys were saying. So I'd search the bands for the slowest speed signals I could find, literally write down the dots and dashes, then decode what I'd heard using that chart. I'd then write down replies, and send it using the code practice oscillator. After doing that for a while, eventually I didn't need the chart anymore. Gradually I got faster, and it got easier. If I wasn't scrounging parts to build my first transmitter from scratch, I was playing with that receiver, "working" on learning the code. I did this for about 9 months. But hey, it worked for me. I finally got up the nerve to actually take the test, and I earned my ticket, passing the test in April 1978 on the first try.
The guy who administered my exam, who ultimately became my elmer, was rather surprised that I had solid copy on everything, and from what he said, I didn't seem to work very hard to copy it. He asked how fast I could go, and I had no clue. So after telling me I passed the test, he asked if he could gradually increase the speed to see how fast I could go. I agreed, and he began. It wasn't until he got up around 10 WPM that I began to miss characters.
13 weeks later, I got an envelope in the mail from the FCC that contained my shiny new Novice ticket. I dropped everything, left my dad's lawn mower in the front yard, and immediately went in to fire up my rig for the first time, and proceeded to make my first contact on 40 meters. Yes, I had sweaty palms, butterflies in my stomach, very nervous. But I actually made contact with WD9DOA in Illinois (still have his QSL card). Big DX for a skinny young kid in Ohio! It was big fun being able to actually talk back to those signals I'd been listening to for so long. I gradually began to enjoy using the code, and that developed over time into a genuine love for CW.
Now 43 years later, it's exactly as others have said. I find it hard to imagine life without CW.
73 de N8AUC
Eric