[NFBWV-Talk] 73 & Counting--A Long and Rambling Story of Growing Older

[Kerri Kosten]

Ed:
First, I am so sorry I have been out of touch. I will explain
everything sometime soon.
Anyway, I just wanted to wish you a happy happy belated birthday! I'm
so glad everything went so well and you had a great birthday!
Kerri

On 10/21/22, Ed McDonald via NFBWV-Talk <nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Thanks to all of you on this list and elsewhere for the many good wishes,
> or--as my amateur radio friends might say--all of the 73's, as I accumulate
> that same number of years.  I do appreciate all of the kind thoughts and
> words.
>
> This year it was really not so much a single birth day, but rather an
> extended birthday experience which made for an eventful and gratifying week.
>  It began last weekend when I poured all of my energy into the completion of
> a long-overdue computer project with a self-imposed Monday deadline.
>
> As most of you know, I call myself station manager of a fledgling little
> enterprise known as Mountain Streams Radio.  For more than a year there has
> lived in my basement a new state-of-the-art computer (purchased with grant
> funds) whose stated purpose is to upgrade the sound and improve the
> operating efficiency of the station.  Since its arrival, my job has been to
> load the computer with the properly configured software and appropriate
> program content necessary for the machine to fulfill that purpose.  I
> allowed it to become quite a daunting job.  Nevertheless, I had a nearly
> overwhelming feeling of relief and accomplishment on Monday morning, when
> the machine at last left my basement and went into service at the station.
> This rebirth of Mountain Streams has been accompanied with a series of
> technical challenges which I am still working on, but getting the new system
> up and running was a birthday gift unto itself.
>
> Tuesday morning I took a pair of steps toward preparing my on-camera
> appearance for next week's Re-Visions Conference and convention--a
> much-needed haircut and beard trim.  Then, following an afternoon of routine
> weekly chores in the recording studio, I spent much of Tuesday evening in a
> virtual board meeting of PattyFest, Inc., an organization based in the
> Morgantown area that supports traditional West Virginia music and which has
> generously supported the radio station.
>
> Wednesday was the big day.  It began with aiding and abetting my wife in the
> construction of a slow cooker pot of homemade chili for the evening meal.
> Following kitchen clean-up and a quick shower, it was off to the dentist's
> office aboard the local Ready Ride bus for our routine cleanings.  Then came
> the long-anticipated arrival of a college friend and fellow radio geek whom
> I had not seen for nearly fifty years.  For those who have listened to
> Mountain Streams, his voice happens to be the voice you hear on many of our
> station identifications.  His 24-hour visit was filled with nearly constant
> conversation--college reminiscences, family updates and personal stories,
> musings about the state of the world, and of course lots of radio talk.
> Dinner was a perfect combination of good food and fellowship--as one would
> expect.  Chili was complemented by a large tray of raw vegetables fresh from
> the local supermarket, enhanced with Karen McDonald's world famous curry
> dip.  Later in the evening came cupcakes (no candles), specially baked at
> Karen's request by a friend who is starting up a local bakery business.
>
> Following my college friend's departure on Thursday afternoon, there was
> time for a few more radio station chores before Karen and I joined what we
> are told were nearly 100 other community folks for the annual awards dinner,
> presented by our local Chamber of Commerce.  After all of that, a good
> night's sleep was in order--especially when one reaches this age!
>
> Today's agenda  was to sleep a little later than usual, get some exercise on
> the elliptical machine, take care of a few household chores, and try to
> catch up on all sorts of overdue messages--including this one.
>
> As much as I may try to downplay the significance of the arrival of another
> October 19, I must admit to feeling pretty happy when a combination of
> events and dear people come together to create such a memorable birthday
> experience.
>
> Now I can only hope that I have time and energy to do what needs to be done
> before we gather for next week's convention.  I look forward to being with
> many of you then.
>
> Peace and 73's
>
> Ed
>
>