Old geezers like me are prone to ramble on so please cut me a little slack.
Almost 50 years ago I made my first contact on Ham Radio. While waiting for my novice license to arrive I got my station up and ready to go. The license arrived in the mail and I rushed into my room plugged in my only crystal, tuned up my DX-35 on 40M and made a contact. I let out an uncontrolled cheer when the guy came back to me. My mother rushed into the room afraid that I had hurt myself. I told her that I was ok and had just made my first contact. She asked me where the other station was located and I told her that he was in Milwaukee (about 90 miles to the west of our QTH). She said politely "Oh! Milwaukee". It was thrilling for me.
A short while ago. I had a nice CW contact on FO-29 with a Ham in Illinois. Since I live in the Packer state, Illinois is not very far away. It was thrilling for me.
73 W9KE Tom Doyle