| |
The Hamfest Detective
GARY E. MEYERS, KY0B
Rummaging through table after table at hamfest after hamfest
each year leaves me feeling like a "hamfest detective." Some
of you will remember the line, "Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts,"
from the TV series "Dragnet," starring Jack Webb, as Detective
Friday. And you probably will relate to the following incident, proving
that in real-life situations facts are important, even for hamfest detectives.
While attending the Ozarks Regional Hamfest in Springfield,
Missouri, I happened upon a table loaded with items that had belonged
to a friend and fellow Ham, Henry Fortner, WB0WQS, who had become a silent
key several months earlier. As I looked over the various rigs and accessories
offered from Henry's estate, imagine my surprise at finding a 1969 ARRL
Handbook with my previous call sign stamped on the front cover.
I immediately remembered back ten years ago when Henry was
working on a home-built receiver. He had used plans from this particular
year's handbook to build it and was looking for the documentation to make
the repairs. I had a copy of that book and offered to loan it to him.
Keeping a written record when you lend something provides
you with important facts you may be glad you have later. While you would
probably remember to whom you loaned your VTVM, or transistor tester,
six months ago, you may have a tougher time several years later remembering
who got away with a particular book or small field strength meter. I failed
to record this information in this case, and I soon forgot all about giving
the book to Henry. It's the exception to the rule that I stumbled onto
my handbook after so many years. While Henry had no intention of keeping
the book, the fact is, out-of-sight out-of-mind, still rules the day for
most of us.
This incident provided a good laugh for my wife, Mary, N0AQC,
Mike O'Brien, K0MYW (who was in charge of selling Henry's estate items),
and me. And I wouldn't be surprised if our friend Henry, WB0WQS, tuned
in from his heavenly QTH and got a chuckle out of it too.
Would I have ever missed that handbook? Probably not. But
the whole thing reminded this hamfest detective that when Detective Friday
said, "just the facts, ma'am, just the facts," he had a good
reason. The importance of getting down all the facts while they're fresh
in your mind can't be overstressed. It will allow you to be generous while
at the same time increase your chances of recovering your property.
|
