8. This Week's Stories and Requests for Help/Blast from the past We try to   
   post stories and comments from our readers each week. Send your story to   
   newsletter@tias.com.   
      
   Here's a reprint of a Christmas story published December 2006:   
      
   Every year at Christmas I think of when I was eight years old and wanted a   
   bike for Christmas ( that was 47years ago).  We didnCÇÖt have a lot but there   
   was always Christmas, my parents operated a gas station / convenience store as   
   they are called today.  We had many regular customers and my mom must have   
   told one of the regulars that I wanted a bike for Christmas and he said he had   
   one for $10.00.  It was Christmas Eve when he brought it to my parents and   
   they were in total shock but did not want to hurt his feelings and no time to   
   purchase a bike they brought it home anyway.  Christmas morning I remember   
   being so excited and came downstairs to see and there was my bike.  My mom   
   said she just held her breath.  My exact words were CÇ£I got a new bike!  But   
   itCÇÖs a used one.  It needed paint, the bracket to hold a light on the front   
   fender was there but the light was missing and the seat needed to be   
   replaced.  I can still see it. However after the opening our other gift I was   
   into warm clothes and boots (we live in Minnesota) outside I went with my new   
   used bike.  I know my parents felt really bad about the bike but I donCÇÖt   
   remember every complaining about it because I got a bike and was happy as can   
   be and my neighbor friends and I road all over town for many years until it   
   wasnCÇÖt cool anymore. Something else that comes to mind is not one neighbor   
   friend ever made fun of my bike, I guess back then name brands and newest   
   didnCÇÖt really mean that much we were happy with what we received with love.    
   Thank you for allowing this warm and fuzzy memory.  Merry Christmas from   
   Brenda S.   
      
      
   Comments, thoughts?  We collect interesting stories about collecting.  Things   
   like your best find, unusual collections, bizarre collectibles.  Anything and   
   everything that is interesting that has to do with collecting.  We may publish   
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   --------------------------   
      
   --- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-3   
    * Origin: Prism bbs (1:261/38)