Dear Motorola:
I am writing to tell you what a central role your company has played in my family's life during the past 60 years and to express my gratitude. I am nearly as old as Motorola (you came into existence in 1928; I in 1946) and still remember when my father brought home our first television. We lived in a modest home in a modest town and modest state (284 Maple Lane, Akron, Ohio), so I do not exaggerate when I say that seeing Dad come through the door with that set was the highlight of a 13-year-old boy's life. It's difficult to describe what those flickering images in your "wonder box" meant to my friends and me. We inhabited a small corner of the world and led limited lives, which Motorola enlarged. Thank you.
Over the years, we owned dozens of the Quasar products manufactured by Motorola and parting with one of your television sets was like saying goodbye to a family pet. The only thing that consoled (no pun intended) us was the thought that another shiny TV made by you, bigger and better than ever, would arrive to take its place.
When my Dad got back from Korea and my older brother, Brian, from Vietnam, the first thing they did after greeting relatives was to plop down in front of the television and relax. Veterans certainly do love television; at least those in our family.
Which is why it was so disappointing when our remote control stopped working last Tuesday. The remote's a Panasonic but since they bought up your TV and radio business more than 30 years ago, we've still felt close to you each time we hold the device in our hand. Dad's long gone and Brian (who purchased (and loved!) numerous Motorola gadgets for his own home over the decades) now lives with me. He's bed-ridden and spends most of his time watching television. Or used to, before the remote failed.
"Failure" is too harsh a word. Certainly for Motorola. Your compnay's like America itself: dependable, innovative, and the best thing going on God's earth. If you happen to have a spare remote (details attached), I've got two new, triple-A batteries just raring to go. Ordinarily, I'd ask a company to replace a faulty product, but in my eyes, Motorola's like my child: it has no faults! So I'd be more than happy to pay for the new remote as I'm sure Brian probably wore ours out with his darned channel surfing.
I don't know if the person reading this letter has ever been bed-ridden or had a loved one bed-ridden or even witnessed someone bed-ridden without a working remote. But that's probably the definition of frustration. At least it is for Brian. Put that together with the fact that his hospital bed in the living room is no longer adequately functioning (head rest doesn't elevate). The warantee's expired, but when I discovered that the electronic sensors under Brian's mattress were made by Motorola, I leapt for joy. No one stands behind their goods like you. That's what I told Brian the other day when he was fussing about the remote.
I said, "Don't fret, Brian. Companies like Motorola (and there aren't many left) are the bedrock of this nation. A family like ours, which has made some sacrifices over the years and continues to serve with honor (our nephew's currently in Iraq where I believe he has a Motorola cordless phone and camera (model #HMVC3050) in his tent) will never be let down by such a grand firm. You'll get your remote, Brian."
I didn't want to burden him with the cost of a new hospital-bed motor ($830) or power windows, doors, and locks for our Chrysler (buy American!), which the dealership says will run to more than $1,150 (estimate enclosed). Thank God Motorola manufactured those parts or I'd really be up the creek. Or in the creek if I were to sail through an open, inoperational car window into a small body of water or possibly even a lake, river, or ocean. Brian would be home in bed, unelevated and without his remote. Or unelevated and with his remote if you send it quickly.
In the meantime, heating bills are mounting ($3,263 currently overdue), but as long as they don't repossess the house ($14,914 behind in mortgage payments) and I can obtain an extra blanket ($26), we should be able to carry on and continue, as we always have, to purchase your fine products.
God bless,
Eugene Banks
