Part of our training was Morse code. The way they taught classes was that you had a certain number of days or weeks to complete training in that area, but you could do it at your own rate. If you tested out early, great. I learned Morse in three days. If I'd tested out the first time I took the test, I would have been the fastest person to test out at that facility at that time. But I was nervous because in this testing room the size of a broom closet, there were no fewer than four officers standing behind me with more brass on their shoulders than I'd ever seen in one place. Nobody told me they were going to be there. I sent code just fine, but I made one error too many receiving. That still gets me. Receiving is the easy part! I couldn't try again until the next day, when there wasn't an officer in sight. Nailed it. So I'm not the fastest. Thirty years later, I might not even be in the top ten. But I'm still proud of it.
Funny thing is, I used to listen to Morse code in movies and tell what they were really saying "Party at Joe's" or whatever.
NOW, three decades later, it's gibberish to me. I have no idea how I learned it so fast. Except numbers. Numbers are easy. ...and vowels. Okay. Maybe I could pick it back up if I tried.
Funny thing is, I used to listen to Morse code in movies and tell what they were really saying "Party at Joe's" or whatever.
NOW, three decades later, it's gibberish to me. I have no idea how I learned it so fast. Except numbers. Numbers are easy. ...and vowels. Okay. Maybe I could pick it back up if I tried.
