Getting Back To CW After 8 Years.

     For many years I had doggedly kept trying to improve my skills as a CW (Morse Code) operator in Ham Radio.  It seemed that the more I practiced the worse I got at copying.  Sending was not an issue, but my copy of anything beyond 12 wpm was beyond what my feeble brain could do.
     I did manage to pass my 20 wpm code test to qualify for my Extra Class ham radio license, but it took 3 tries to get there.  I finally passed on the 3rd try.  After jumping that hurdle, I never tried keeping up the 20 wpm speed because I was just not comfortable copying at that speed.  My brain was just not wired for it.  I tried some QSOs at speeds approaching 20 wpm but I felt exhausted once I got done.  I thought to myself..."Is why we say we "work" a station?  This is not my idea of fun!"
     So, I went back to my old comfortable speed of 12 wpm.  Much to my chagrin, I kept running into high-speed operators coming back to me at the speed of light, expecting me to copy.  I refused to even try and either signed off or went to another  part of the band.  Sometimes I would say "NO QRS, NO QSO." but they still came back at their speed of light, ignoring my request.  At one point I even joined a CW club called FISTS who claimed that they would slow down for slower operators.  I quickly found out that they fell into the same bad habit of creeping up to the speed of light just like all the other hot-shot operators.
     In frustration, I finally sold all 3 of my CW keys and automatic keyers and concentrated my efforts in the digital modes such as PSK31, RTTY, Feld Hell and whatever others I could find on the air.  I was a much happier camper.
     But now, things have changed again.  My oldest granddaughter, Julianna, age 9, is studying for her Technician License and seems to have a keen interest in CW.  Well, like a good grandpa, I bought her the MFJ Morse Tutor so she could practice.  Since I had been CW-free for 8 years, I knew that my CW skills were pretty rusty by this time.  So, I bought a Vibroplex iambic key and started listening to CW signals on the air and I did some keying with the rig power turned way down and the tuner on the dummy load setting to get my fist and brain used to the idea of CW again.
     I decided that the best thing to do would be to stay the hell out of the Extra Class portion of the CW band on 40 meters.  That way the chances of me running into a speed-of-light operator would be minimized.  So far, after 4 QSOs, I have been pleasantly surprised and pleased at my progress and I actually ENJOYED it! GASP!  I have no intention to attempt 20 wpm, tho.  I will stay right where I am comfortable.