During that same time, my reading introduced me to VHF/UHF.  My dad was in the air force and I lived on an air force base...lots of VHF scanning opportunities!  In 1990, I purchased my first high-end radio, an Icom R7000 VHF/UHF communications receiver (which I still own and use today.)

In the spring of 1991, I learned that my high school history teacher was a HAM.  Vern Dameron, K1DRN/SK, became my elmer.  For the next couple of months, we spent two days a week after school learning about radio and practicing morse code.  We did so much practicing that when it came time to take my test in June 1991, I was proficient well above the 5 wpm CW required for the Novice exam.  I passed easily.  My license arrive on July 5, 1991 so I can say I've now been licensed 20 years.

My first QSO did not come until October 1991.  It took me awhile to save for a new radio.  I purchased a new Icom 735 with the matching PS55 power supply.  That radio is still serving me well with no problems 20 years later as my secondary HF transceiver!!

When I got the radio, Vern helped me build my first 10m dipole and solder my first PL259s.  A few months later I upgraded that dipole to a Cushcraft R7 verticle.  Ten meters was hot back then.  I nearly completed Worked All States and made it half way to DXCC on 10m phone.

I upgraded to Technician in November 1991 and purchased an Icom 2GAT 2m HT.  I did not find the VHF stuff as exciting as all of the countries I could talk to on HF.  I credit the Novice license to helping me discover HF.  I'm sure that if I had started as a no-code Tech, that I would have really missed out and not known about what HF has to offer.  My VHF time on the radio has been nearly nonexistent over the last 20 years as I spend almost 100% of it on HF.  I thought and still think that the Novice license with its dominant HF priveleges really showcased the international reachings of amateur radio.