silver
01-05-2006, 09:48 AM
Just thought I would share to anyone that knew that.. thought it was kinda neat. Its actually a pretty neat little story too...
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/living/0106/04real.html
Real Living: Men's spirit of 'can do' a blessing
By GRACIE BONDS STAPLES
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/04/06
Justina Lyons said they laughed at her when she asked for a radio for her grandddaughter's car.
The pink station wagon was to be a birthday present and what would such a car be without, well, a little music to ride along to.
"It's an adorable little car," the Alpharetta grandmother said.
Lyons was on a stretch of Ga. 9 shortly before Christmas when she spotted what looked like a menagerie of transportation — cars, airplanes and fire engine — on the side of the road.
Looking over the stock, she spotted the station wagon. These were no ordinary vehicles. They were constructed on sturdy metal frames. They weren't the battery-operated kind but had foot pedals to make them go. In her mind's eye, Lyons could see her granddaughter Madison behind the wheel. Of course, she had to have it.
The car was special, but a radio and CD player would make it the perfect birthday present. That way Madison could listen to her favorite Winnie the Pooh and Cinderella music.
Lyons went to a local toy store, then to a car dealership, then an electronics store.
She told the men what she wanted. Just buy a set of headphones, the men suggested through laughter.
Lyons walked away embarrassed. She could've thought of that herself — but headphones wouldn't do, not for this car, not for her only grandchild.
"I'm a widow and it's hard to describe,'' Lyons said of her connection to little Madison. "She means the world to me."
It was times like these that made her miss her husband James even more. He would've gladly filled her request but he was gone now. He passed away in 1983.
She knew the radio and CD player in a toy car might've seemed over the top, stupid even.
"But it was something I wanted to do in the worst way,'' Lyons said.
And so it occurred to her that maybe she could try one other place.
"Please don't laugh at me when I tell you what I want," she told the first guy she saw at a nearby Circuit City. He couldn't help her but he pointed to two guys who could.
Matt James had only worked at the store four months but he'd been installing car radios since he was 16.
"It's like a passion for me," he said.
Lyons explained to James and Jeff Sheets what she wanted. It was kind of an odd request but looking at the car, they agreed it could be done. The greatest challenge would be keeping the cost down, they told her.
Lyons walked out of the store in tears. But this time, they were happy tears.
Sheets and James went to work. They drilled a hole in one side of the little car for the antenna. They ran all the appropriate wires. They installed speakers in the back. After four days, the installation was complete. The $200 cost was a lot cheaper than what they'd anticipated.
Lyons was beside herself when she picked up the car.
Last week she delivered it to Madison at her home in Charlotte, just in time for her birthday on New Year's Eve.
As her grandmother and other family members gathered around, Madison peeled the wrapping from the car.
Madison hopped into the driver's seat, and placed a stuffed Mickey Mouse beside her. Then, she turned on the radio.
Oh, my gosh, she said. Oh my gosh. My car.
"It truly is worth every penny spent," Lyons said, "to see the joy and gleam in her eyes.''
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/living/0106/04real.html
Real Living: Men's spirit of 'can do' a blessing
By GRACIE BONDS STAPLES
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/04/06
Justina Lyons said they laughed at her when she asked for a radio for her grandddaughter's car.
The pink station wagon was to be a birthday present and what would such a car be without, well, a little music to ride along to.
"It's an adorable little car," the Alpharetta grandmother said.
Lyons was on a stretch of Ga. 9 shortly before Christmas when she spotted what looked like a menagerie of transportation — cars, airplanes and fire engine — on the side of the road.
Looking over the stock, she spotted the station wagon. These were no ordinary vehicles. They were constructed on sturdy metal frames. They weren't the battery-operated kind but had foot pedals to make them go. In her mind's eye, Lyons could see her granddaughter Madison behind the wheel. Of course, she had to have it.
The car was special, but a radio and CD player would make it the perfect birthday present. That way Madison could listen to her favorite Winnie the Pooh and Cinderella music.
Lyons went to a local toy store, then to a car dealership, then an electronics store.
She told the men what she wanted. Just buy a set of headphones, the men suggested through laughter.
Lyons walked away embarrassed. She could've thought of that herself — but headphones wouldn't do, not for this car, not for her only grandchild.
"I'm a widow and it's hard to describe,'' Lyons said of her connection to little Madison. "She means the world to me."
It was times like these that made her miss her husband James even more. He would've gladly filled her request but he was gone now. He passed away in 1983.
She knew the radio and CD player in a toy car might've seemed over the top, stupid even.
"But it was something I wanted to do in the worst way,'' Lyons said.
And so it occurred to her that maybe she could try one other place.
"Please don't laugh at me when I tell you what I want," she told the first guy she saw at a nearby Circuit City. He couldn't help her but he pointed to two guys who could.
Matt James had only worked at the store four months but he'd been installing car radios since he was 16.
"It's like a passion for me," he said.
Lyons explained to James and Jeff Sheets what she wanted. It was kind of an odd request but looking at the car, they agreed it could be done. The greatest challenge would be keeping the cost down, they told her.
Lyons walked out of the store in tears. But this time, they were happy tears.
Sheets and James went to work. They drilled a hole in one side of the little car for the antenna. They ran all the appropriate wires. They installed speakers in the back. After four days, the installation was complete. The $200 cost was a lot cheaper than what they'd anticipated.
Lyons was beside herself when she picked up the car.
Last week she delivered it to Madison at her home in Charlotte, just in time for her birthday on New Year's Eve.
As her grandmother and other family members gathered around, Madison peeled the wrapping from the car.
Madison hopped into the driver's seat, and placed a stuffed Mickey Mouse beside her. Then, she turned on the radio.
Oh, my gosh, she said. Oh my gosh. My car.
"It truly is worth every penny spent," Lyons said, "to see the joy and gleam in her eyes.''