The Impossible Dream: a 60s Style Radio for Mom's Christmas 2009

It was likely my biggest mountain to climb during Christmas Search 2009.

Tonight, I have conquered it.

And what was this pinnacle, this impossible dream, this Holy Grail?

It was a radio for my mother to have in her bathroom.

No doubt you're getting a chuckle out of this and thinking, "What problem could there be finding a radio for a gift? Every store has dozens to choose from!"

That's right, and that's the problem.

Today's radios come with digital tuning, I-pod dock, CD player, clock, dual alarm, mega bass, and on and on and on. The features are endless, and my mom wants none of them.

It's not a radio. It's a NASA launch panel at Houston Control.

My wife and I searched three stores this past weekend. At one store, we asked a clerk for help finding just a basic radio. He was probably at least 30 years our junior. He just shook his head and smiled, then politely showed us what was in stock (nothing suitable).

At another store, we actually found a radio that would've been just fine. It had an old-style station tuning dial, and the only other controls were on/off, AM/FM and volume.

It was just right, but because the box said it was "retro styled," the price was jacked up. Seventy dollars for this striped-down entertainment when we could've bought a radio with every modern bell, whistle and tweet for half as much.

But again, that isn't what Mom wants, and I know she wouldn't want me paying 70 bucks anyway.

Tonight during dinner break, I decided to try The Shack, which is the cool new name for Radio Shack, the ol' reliable of electronics.

It was ol' reliable tonight too.

A friendly clerk who had helped me several times in recent years was there, and I was glad to see him. I explained what I needed, and he had just the thing.

It's a good, basic black and silver AM/FM radio. Runs on AC or batteries. The only bell/whistle/tweet this radio has is an instant weather forecast, and I don't think Mom will mind.

All for just $32.

It's a wonderful feeling to find exactly what you're looking for.

By the way, I'm not worried about spoiling the Christmas surprise. Mom is not into computers. Or cell phones.

But if she changes her mind and asks for one of those in 2010, no problem.

They'll be far easier to find than a basic radio!