We made a road trip to the Capital City on Saturday; Uncle Kyle had a very special gift for Mason, this lucky little boy didn't need to wait until Christmas, either! A few months back Kyle discovered the old, rusted out version of this very wagon in Grandma's basement where it's languished, neglected, for decades. Purchased in the 40's for my husband's older brother, this Murray wagon was pressed into constant, and sometimes heavy, service for at least thirty years! My husband has fond memories not only of riding in it as a small child, but of using it to collect glass pop bottles for refund, from construction sites, in the 60's when he was a boy; as well as piling it high with rocks, for transport, when he and his Dad built the foundation for a porch in the 70's, as a teenager. Kyle knew that this would make the perfect first Christmas gift for another generation. With Grandma's permission, Kyle worked his magic with sandpaper and a spray gun. He replaced the wheels, crafted a new bushing for the steering mechanism, and applied a pinstripe along the sides. Mason was mesmerized by his first set of wheels, he stared and smiled a great big grin of sheer delight and gratitude! I'm not sure if his reaction was to the wagon itself or to the reflection of the Christmas tree lights in the high-gloss paint finish; it really doesn't matter. His is now a wagon with a long and storied past, the very best gift of all! back row, left to right: My husband, Mason, Kyle
front row: Riley, Mason's big "sister"
Life is Good!
front row: Riley, Mason's big "sister"
Life is Good!
14 comments:
Being an uncle is coming SO naturally to Kyle! What a wonderful thing for him to do.
The "collecting pop bottles" rang true for me, something I'd not thought about for ages. Our kids have no idea about that . . . .
Love,
n, np
Looks like Riley is harnesed and ready to pull Mason. Kyle did a great job! I know Mason will have tons of fun with his wagon and later will appreciate all its history.
It's just the perfect gift - all ready for the adventures of a new generation!
oh my this is just so special. What a lucky boy and isn't it wonderful that it was kept all these years?
He will enjoy that wagon for many years.
Kathie
What a PERFECT gift!! My boys loved their red wagon too...I'm sure Mason will put lots of miles on his!
Oh gosh - that's a gift for the whole family! How special, a real labor of love. Someone needs to write the story of that wagon on the bottom and it will live for generations!
What wonderful work to restore the wagon! I hope Mason get as much enjoyment from the wagon as his grandpa did. The family photo is priceless.
Think of all the stories that can be told to Mason and he is being pulled around in his new fancy wagon. That is precious.
What a wonderful gift packed with so many memories and Mason now will use it to make his own! Way to go Uncle Kyle!!
aunt leigh anna helped too!
What a wonderful photo! And, Mason is so lucky to have such a thoughtful and talented uncle.
Oh, I do hope someone will dig around in the old family photo albums and find photos of those who have used the wagon before now. . . I'd be assembling a book with any and all stories along with the photos so that Mason can see how it all came to be. What a MARVELOUS gift (uncles are SO special anyway)... (have you visited blurb.com - you can make your own photo book with text)
Wow! What a gift of love! And how wonderful that your husband's family has kept a treasure that might be so easily seen as just something old and rickety in another basement. I can picture this being passed on to Kyle's someday children too!
This wagon is great, they have only become available in the UK in recent years and I know that my daughter and son in law have got a similar one for the twins for Christmas...can't wait to see them in it!
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