Ron, W6OM mentioned in his interview about his open garage door and that Donnie and David found him and his ham radio station as they passed by his house. This became their destination where they excelled in ham radio to Extra Class licenses. The open garages of my childhood have a special place in my memory that led to some of my most exciting opportunities.
My memories as a kid was that in Southern California neighborhoods, open garage doors, in the evening was common place - everyone had some kind of project going. My dad worked on the family cars and built a dune buggy out of a trashed VW that had been rolled in an accident. As a kid, I spent many evenings in the garage holding the light, watching and absorbing what was taking place to the point where I could and still can fix just about anything.
I told Ron, after the podcast interview, about a time where I discovered a guy in the neighborhood restoring an airplane. A Piper with a muslin cover. Maybe a four seater. About four months later, I see the same guy in the community pool and he tells me that the plane is finished. Do I want a ride? I am eleven years old. Of course I want a ride! I go to tell my mother, who is sitting with other mothers at the pool, about his amazing offer and she replies, "sure honey, take your two brothers".
The following Saturday my brothers and I fly in this newly refurbished airplane from the airport in Fullerton, California to the Puddingstone Reservoir for the "$100.00 hamburger". What a great experience! G-d bless my mom. I was hooked on airplanes for over 30 years.
I told Ron, that years later, as a parent of boys myself, I finally asked my mom, "what was going through your mind when you turned over your children, all of them, to a stranger who built an airplane in his garage?". Her reply was that it seemed like a good idea at the time. It certainly was and it ignited a passion in me that has never died.
How do we open our garages once again, to demonstrate our hobbies to impressionalble kids who could take our ideas and soar?
73,
Eric 4Z1UG
I told Ron, after the podcast interview, about a time where I discovered a guy in the neighborhood restoring an airplane. A Piper with a muslin cover. Maybe a four seater. About four months later, I see the same guy in the community pool and he tells me that the plane is finished. Do I want a ride? I am eleven years old. Of course I want a ride! I go to tell my mother, who is sitting with other mothers at the pool, about his amazing offer and she replies, "sure honey, take your two brothers".
The following Saturday my brothers and I fly in this newly refurbished airplane from the airport in Fullerton, California to the Puddingstone Reservoir for the "$100.00 hamburger". What a great experience! G-d bless my mom. I was hooked on airplanes for over 30 years.
I told Ron, that years later, as a parent of boys myself, I finally asked my mom, "what was going through your mind when you turned over your children, all of them, to a stranger who built an airplane in his garage?". Her reply was that it seemed like a good idea at the time. It certainly was and it ignited a passion in me that has never died.
How do we open our garages once again, to demonstrate our hobbies to impressionalble kids who could take our ideas and soar?
73,
Eric 4Z1UG
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