That Time Of The Year Again!!
Every year this time, I sit with a dilemma. My dad is having his 87th birthday in less than two weeks and I still do not know what to buy him.
It is so hard to buy something for a man who already has everything he wants. Given his age, I should buy something that I want, as it will just come back to me eventually but he will probably outlive me. He is in such good shape that he may easily live another 13 years and I am not so sure about myself.
However, I must admit that he now looks 10 years older than last year this time. It fills me with sadness that he may leave us sometime soon. He expressed the wish several times now that he would be happy not to wake up one morning. He walks so much slower than before and not as upright as he taught me to walk. I think he misses my mother more than what we can realize.
I posted a similar blog last year this time and somebody who is no longer with us - and whose name I may not mention here - suggested I buy him an electronic picture frame. I did so and put all his favorite photos on there. He loved it and to my memory it was, and still is, the only gift that I ever gave him that he actually used.
Now what do I buy him this year? The 29th is around the corner and I do not have a clue what to give him for his birthday. I do not think he will appreciate another picture frame.
Being the eldest living member in the family, he is quite a celebrity and we had a kind of a family day today to get the focus away from my his birthday so my sister and I can have him for ourselves on that day.
Now you all have a wonderful day!
Comments (39)
my gosh I thought it was the taxes again
I wish I could bake a birthday cake for your dad, but I can't. I am not a "cake-baker."
So I made these sweetcorn fritters instead..
And then I have asked this motorcyclist
Happy Birthday, Mr. Catfoot Senior!
(in case I couldn't say it on his special day)
How about a CD with his favorite music from back in they days? Older people really appreciate listening to music from their era...brings back fond memories.
I'll tell him to look out for it.'m sure he will enjoy it.
That is the problem. As I said in my blog, how do you buy something for somebody who has all that he wants. He has all the music that he likes. It took me a long time to convert him to CD's but since then he had acquired a collection that will stand back for nobody.
Time with us is something that he gets all the time. My sister and I really make an effort to be with him and we make turns to take him for lunch every week, and at least once a month we both take him so we can all be together. Furthermore we spend every Sunday with him. My family don't buy big Christmas gifts bit on birthdays we hang out. I need to buy him something great.
I agree with Welela. Spending your time with him and taking him to his favorite restuarant for dinner.
My old man is my hero and if I can have my way he will live for ever. I mock with him some time but I would love to celebrate his 100th with him. He was - and still is - a wonderful father and it is payback time now. He was always there for me when I needed him.
We do that as a matter of routine. He will not even notice a difference if we take him out for dinner. I need to get him something special. A few years ago we took him on a boat trip to the Seychelles as a birthday gift and it ended with him insisting to pay for everything.
You can also give him money/ cash. And let him buy what he want.....
When I was younger, before I realized that he feels the same about cars as I do - a car is a thing to get from point A to point B - I used to buy him something for his car. Things like car seat covers, spotlights, steering wheel covers etc but he never used it. Got wise since then.
I will certainly pass it on to him... If I don't eat it myself.
Money means nothing to him. He has more than enough.
I would never say no to a voucher for a massage.
Not this guy. He won't appreciate this at all. Can you see the problem I have?
No idea what to get her and I'm not even around this week to buy something locally.
There are few things that can upset me more than a gift that is not appreciated. Not upset with the recipient but with myself for picking the wrong gift.
I will extend your good wishes to him.
Before I go off to sleep, why did you remove your pic? I - and I'm sure everybody else - enjoyed it.
I believe the greatest gift you can give him is simply your time, perhaps find an activity you can do together... a game of chess, a jigsaw puzzle, watch a good classic movie etc... only you know your dad well enough to know what he would enjoy doing. The best gifts don't always have to be expensive
bottom line..be the gift....
Nothing I can think of. May be take him to where he grew up. Physically down the memory lane.
Wish him a very Happy Birthday and many more to come!!!
My sister and I really spend quality time with him. Between the two of us at least 10 hours a week. Yesterday we spent 5 hours together. Last week I visited him twice, each time about two hours and my sister took him for lunch which was another two hours. This week is my turn for lunch with him. If he sees more of us, we will bore him.
We used to go fishing together and he taught me all the finer tricks about it. However, since he had a hip replacement early last year, he no longer goes fishing. He recovered so well and walks without a stick but it is too risky.
He is amazingly active for his age; drives his own car, still plays bowls and belongs to several senior citizen clubs. He goes on these one-day and two-day tours all the time. He has a full life with nothing we can add to it.
If he has a favorite author then only he would know it. I cannot ever recall seeing him reading a novel. Other than the odd magazine he only reads the Bible. Maybe I must think about buying him a fancy Bible.
Do you want the old man to disinherit me?
Quite unlike me, he is a devoted Christian and has been in a pub only once in his life and that was to please his late brother when he came visiting from the in-land many years ago.
He grew up on a farm that was next to a fishing village here in the Cape Peninsula but it has been sold off by the family and it is residential area today. I went there last year but he did not want to go along when I asked him. I don't think he wants to go there.
What about a poker night? Invite some of his buddies for a BBQ then play some card games...
@ Ken, I love those cinnamon rolls....I love to make mine with lots of raisins tho.
According to our folk customs, a birthday of older persons, they eat birthday noodles ( longevity noodles) on behalf of a good wishes for the future. We can cook it at home or go to a restaurant. Gift is not important, they have their own favorite already.
Here, a special good wishes to your Dad's birthday.
Have a lovely day!!!!!!!Lylyan