An 86-year-old man has warmed hearts worldwide after sending a touching letter to an eBay seller. The elderly man purchased a VHS player from seller Matt Shoukry. The VHS player helped him reconnect with cherished memories by allowing him to watch old home videos.
Shoukry shared the letter on Reddit, and it quickly went viral. The man’s words resonated with many, gaining over 160,000 upvotes in just one day. In the letter, the man expressed his deep gratitude for being able to relive moments from his past, which had previously been locked away on tapes.
Rediscovering Old Memories
The man explained that his original VHS player had stopped working, prompting him to buy a new one on eBay. Once the player arrived, it allowed him to watch important moments from his life that he hadn’t seen in years.
“I watched tapes of my retirement party from 25 years ago, which I had never seen before. Jeez, were we young,” the man wrote. “Then, I watched a tape of my wedding, filled with family and friends, many of whom are no longer with us.”
He also mentioned how these tapes helped him relive the memories of watching his children grow up, as well as family trips. For him, it was a beautiful way to reflect on the “gentle maturing” of his family.
A Simple but Powerful Gesture
The elderly man ended his letter by expressing his heartfelt thanks to Shoukry. “I thought you would appreciate how much someone has enjoyed your offer,” he wrote.
For Shoukry, this note was unexpected but deeply touching. In an interview with the BBC, he said, “I was blown away by how much emotion and feeling this gentleman put into his note. It made me feel so connected to him.”
Going Viral on Social Media
After posting the letter on Reddit, the heartwarming story gained significant attention. Many people shared their own experiences with old home videos. Some reminisced about their own VHS tapes, while others praised the act of sending a thank-you note.
One Reddit user commented, “Never forget what a thank-you letter means — no matter the generation.”
Shoukry explained that he chose to share the letter as a way to spread positivity. “With so much negativity in the world, it’s nice to share something wholesome and uplifting,” he said.
This story is a reminder of how small gestures can make a big impact. It also shows how reconnecting with the past can bring joy, even decades later.
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