WESTERVILLE, MD – Local amateur radio operator Mark Willets shared his elaborate field day plan but didn’t share his secret—he just wanted to have a break.
At a recent Westerville Amateur Radio Club meeting, members asked Mark what he’d be bringing to their field day event, and he quickly stated that he wouldn’t be joining. “I have my own plans” he snapped back. When pressed, Mark said, “I’ll be setting up a crank-up tower with a tri-bander, an off-center fed dipole, and two multi-band verticals at Federal Hill up on highway 165… just like last year!”
Club member Randy Burns immediately became suspicious. “Hey Mark… I was setup on Federal Hill last year, and I sure didn’t see you…”
Mark, visibly shaken, broke down and spilled the beans. “Dangit, Randy… you’re right man,” said Mark with a sullen face.
“Heck, I haven’t done a real field day at all the past few years.” Mark continued, “It’s just the only good excuse I had to take some time for myself. Things have been so busy since Janet started working on her Etsy friendship bracelet business from the house, and my work has been insane with the new waste management account we picked up… I just needed a break.
Mark then shared his breakthrough. “I realized when I talk to the family or coworkers about radio stuff, they immediately tune me out and never ask any follow-up questions. It’s like a free pass!”
“When I told Janet I wanted to do a guys weekend back in March, she grilled me about time away from the newborn,” said Mark. “When I said I was doing a ‘ham radio thing’ at the end of June, she just softly grunted, roller her eyes, and ignored me for the rest of the conversation. It was amazing!”
The amateur radio club meeting notes indicated that Mark rented a nice Airbnb with a lovely pool, just outside of town, and that four other club members—and no radio gear– were now planning to join him.
By K5PO, on the scene
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