Dayton Hamvention & The Loss of a Beloved Pet
I went to Dayton, Ohio this spring to the annual Hamvention, one of the largest Amateur Radio events in North America. This venerable event takes place at the Hara Arena, a venue that is looking particularly venerable at this point in the 21st century. When it hasn't been done over like a silk-covered sow's ear, replete with banners, advertisements, and pictures of shiny new ham gear, I'm guessing it looks pretty much like a sow's ear. Rumor has it that it will get a refit before next years event. That would be a step in the right direction.
Nevertheless, I doubt I will attend next years event. I have reached the retrenchment phase of my amateur career. I'm trying to get rid of stuff rather than acquire more. The acquisition of my little KX3 QRP transceiver and the addition of the RM Italy HLA 505 amplifier has completed my station requirements for the time being.
This is not to say that there weren't plenty of temptations at the ham fest gnawing at my consciousness and my pocketbook! There were plenty of old boat anchors to be had. I think I saw almost every radio I have ever owned for sale on Friday as I made my way through the flea market. Friday was a sunny, warm morning, a great time to be shopping the flea market. I suspected we would see some inclement weather by mid afternoon, so I wanted to be sure to have completed my rounds outside before it arrived!
Sure enough, as I was perusing the commercial stands inside the Hara Arena, the heavens opened up and there was quite a deluge. Of course the rains just drove a lot of the pedestrian traffic indoors and made it very difficult to approach any of the more popular commercial stands. I did visit the ARRL exhibit and shook hands with Bob Allison, WB1GCM, the QST and ARRL review and test person. We had a short conversation and I told him I enjoyed his video reviews in the digital version of QST. He seemed as jolly a fellow in person as he does in the videos, and it was fun seeing him in person.
I didn't see any other people of note while I was there, but I wasn't looking in particular. After having spent several hours in the fleamarket, I was getting tired and really didn't need anything from the commercial vendors, so I whizzed through most of the displays without stopping or lingering too much at any of them except the Elecraft booth. These are the people that made my KX3 QRP transceiver, and I wanted to see if there is anything new and exciting amongst their offerings. But unfortunately, their booth was packed and I really didn't get a chance to talk to anyone. On the other hand my aching feet we're talking to me plenty! It was time to go!
The next morning I was up early and headed north again. The main reason I had traveled to Dayton was to exchange an MFJ power supply which I had purchased on my way back from Florida. The supply was defective and rather then mail it back to Mississippi for an exchange which would have been complicated (since they think I live in Minnesota), I decided to talk them into letting me bring it to the ham fest and exchanging it in person. This went off without a hitch, and that having been done, there was only one other thing I needed to find: rubber feet with adhesive on the back made by 3M. The boss of the ONTARS network, Barry, VE3ISX, ask me to keep my eyes open for some while I was down there. He was unable to travel to the ham fest because his daughter was having a baby - a good reason! I was fortunate to find them - they were the last set of feet in the bin - so I scooped them up and considered my shopping finished!
R.I.P. GEORGE THE CAT
To be honest, the real reason I did not enjoy the ham fest so much and the reason I left so quickly was that our beloved cat, George, passed away the evening of the day I drove down to Dayton.
Georgie had been sick for several weeks, and seem to be getting weaker every day. We took him to the vet that Thursday morning before I left to see if there was anything we could do to improve his comfort and to help them hang on a little bit longer.
It surprised me when the vet started talking about putting him to sleep right away, but seeing our reaction she suggested that she could run some tests, which we encouraged her to do. She would also keep him in her care that day, administering oxygen and other meds in hopes of improving his comfort and his ability to survive a little longer. Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way.
I was enjoying a wonderful supper at a Mediterranean restaurant that evening near Dayton when Robbie called with the news that George had passed away in his arms that evening immediately after he had retrieved the poor animal from the vet. Poor Robbie was inconsolable, devastated, and beside himself with grief -- he has a very tender heart.
I suspect that what was going through his mind, consciously or unconsciously, was the reality that we all face when someone we know and love dies. We immediately project the idea that we will all die at some point onto ourselves and the lives of others we love and care for. That reality is almost too much to contend with. I suspect some of us shove it into the back corners of our mind more easily than others. I was glad that our friend, Lloyd, was with him at the time, although it was very difficult for Lloyd to deal with the Robbie in that state. The poor boy was truly inconsolable.
As for me, I felt like I had been punched in the gut when I got Robbie's phone call. The delicious Mediterranean food I had been eating suddenly turned to lead in my stomach, and I couldn't eat another bite. I excuse myself and went out to the parking lot so that I could talk with Robbie. It was a very difficult moment for both him and me. I felt badly that I wasn't there with him when George died, and I wasn't there to comfort him in person. He was upset with me that I had made this trip when George was so ill. He had every right to be. We can never know the future, and even though I had hopes from the veterinarian that he would survive the weekend, I was wrong. I shouldn't have left.
Robbie wrapped George in half of a quilt - the other half he's holding in reserve for Gracie - and buried him under our Buddha in the backyard. I'm not sure this was the wisest thing for him to do; now he has a daily reminder of poor George and his sudden death. Robbie goes out every morning and sits in a chair in front of the Buddha and mourns. Sometimes he doesn't even make it that far. I found him weeping again in the kitchen this morning. All I can do is hold him tight and tell him it will be all right. The bottom line is that George is much better off now than he was in the last couple of weeks of his life.
I try to explain to Robbie that the situation is not all that different than what happened with my mother. Of course the duration her illness was measured in decades, whereas George's decline happen fairly quickly over a matter of months. Still, both are better off now than suffering the way they were. This gives some me peace of mind about the whole situation.
Still, I find myself missing George every day. He's not there any more at the door when I come into the house. I don't see his discarded fur collecting in the corners of the stairs requiring cleaning every other day. I don't feel his warm body against my feet at night as I sleep.
George was a unique animal. He was a cat that often acted like a dog. He was curious (hence his name), he was loving, and he was loyal. Yes, sometimes he was a pest too! But we will miss him very, very much.
Nevertheless, I doubt I will attend next years event. I have reached the retrenchment phase of my amateur career. I'm trying to get rid of stuff rather than acquire more. The acquisition of my little KX3 QRP transceiver and the addition of the RM Italy HLA 505 amplifier has completed my station requirements for the time being.
This is not to say that there weren't plenty of temptations at the ham fest gnawing at my consciousness and my pocketbook! There were plenty of old boat anchors to be had. I think I saw almost every radio I have ever owned for sale on Friday as I made my way through the flea market. Friday was a sunny, warm morning, a great time to be shopping the flea market. I suspected we would see some inclement weather by mid afternoon, so I wanted to be sure to have completed my rounds outside before it arrived!
Sure enough, as I was perusing the commercial stands inside the Hara Arena, the heavens opened up and there was quite a deluge. Of course the rains just drove a lot of the pedestrian traffic indoors and made it very difficult to approach any of the more popular commercial stands. I did visit the ARRL exhibit and shook hands with Bob Allison, WB1GCM, the QST and ARRL review and test person. We had a short conversation and I told him I enjoyed his video reviews in the digital version of QST. He seemed as jolly a fellow in person as he does in the videos, and it was fun seeing him in person.
I didn't see any other people of note while I was there, but I wasn't looking in particular. After having spent several hours in the fleamarket, I was getting tired and really didn't need anything from the commercial vendors, so I whizzed through most of the displays without stopping or lingering too much at any of them except the Elecraft booth. These are the people that made my KX3 QRP transceiver, and I wanted to see if there is anything new and exciting amongst their offerings. But unfortunately, their booth was packed and I really didn't get a chance to talk to anyone. On the other hand my aching feet we're talking to me plenty! It was time to go!
The next morning I was up early and headed north again. The main reason I had traveled to Dayton was to exchange an MFJ power supply which I had purchased on my way back from Florida. The supply was defective and rather then mail it back to Mississippi for an exchange which would have been complicated (since they think I live in Minnesota), I decided to talk them into letting me bring it to the ham fest and exchanging it in person. This went off without a hitch, and that having been done, there was only one other thing I needed to find: rubber feet with adhesive on the back made by 3M. The boss of the ONTARS network, Barry, VE3ISX, ask me to keep my eyes open for some while I was down there. He was unable to travel to the ham fest because his daughter was having a baby - a good reason! I was fortunate to find them - they were the last set of feet in the bin - so I scooped them up and considered my shopping finished!
R.I.P. GEORGE THE CAT
To be honest, the real reason I did not enjoy the ham fest so much and the reason I left so quickly was that our beloved cat, George, passed away the evening of the day I drove down to Dayton.
Georgie had been sick for several weeks, and seem to be getting weaker every day. We took him to the vet that Thursday morning before I left to see if there was anything we could do to improve his comfort and to help them hang on a little bit longer.
It surprised me when the vet started talking about putting him to sleep right away, but seeing our reaction she suggested that she could run some tests, which we encouraged her to do. She would also keep him in her care that day, administering oxygen and other meds in hopes of improving his comfort and his ability to survive a little longer. Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way.
I was enjoying a wonderful supper at a Mediterranean restaurant that evening near Dayton when Robbie called with the news that George had passed away in his arms that evening immediately after he had retrieved the poor animal from the vet. Poor Robbie was inconsolable, devastated, and beside himself with grief -- he has a very tender heart.
I suspect that what was going through his mind, consciously or unconsciously, was the reality that we all face when someone we know and love dies. We immediately project the idea that we will all die at some point onto ourselves and the lives of others we love and care for. That reality is almost too much to contend with. I suspect some of us shove it into the back corners of our mind more easily than others. I was glad that our friend, Lloyd, was with him at the time, although it was very difficult for Lloyd to deal with the Robbie in that state. The poor boy was truly inconsolable.
As for me, I felt like I had been punched in the gut when I got Robbie's phone call. The delicious Mediterranean food I had been eating suddenly turned to lead in my stomach, and I couldn't eat another bite. I excuse myself and went out to the parking lot so that I could talk with Robbie. It was a very difficult moment for both him and me. I felt badly that I wasn't there with him when George died, and I wasn't there to comfort him in person. He was upset with me that I had made this trip when George was so ill. He had every right to be. We can never know the future, and even though I had hopes from the veterinarian that he would survive the weekend, I was wrong. I shouldn't have left.
Robbie wrapped George in half of a quilt - the other half he's holding in reserve for Gracie - and buried him under our Buddha in the backyard. I'm not sure this was the wisest thing for him to do; now he has a daily reminder of poor George and his sudden death. Robbie goes out every morning and sits in a chair in front of the Buddha and mourns. Sometimes he doesn't even make it that far. I found him weeping again in the kitchen this morning. All I can do is hold him tight and tell him it will be all right. The bottom line is that George is much better off now than he was in the last couple of weeks of his life.
I try to explain to Robbie that the situation is not all that different than what happened with my mother. Of course the duration her illness was measured in decades, whereas George's decline happen fairly quickly over a matter of months. Still, both are better off now than suffering the way they were. This gives some me peace of mind about the whole situation.
Still, I find myself missing George every day. He's not there any more at the door when I come into the house. I don't see his discarded fur collecting in the corners of the stairs requiring cleaning every other day. I don't feel his warm body against my feet at night as I sleep.
George was a unique animal. He was a cat that often acted like a dog. He was curious (hence his name), he was loving, and he was loyal. Yes, sometimes he was a pest too! But we will miss him very, very much.