present for an 83 year old ?
By Godmother
@Godmother (476)
Indonesia
January 23, 2010 1:37am CST
I will be going for a short vacation to Europe next month, and will take time to visit my 83 year old aunt living in Holland, on the day of her birthday. When I called her she said not to bring anything because her house is already so full of trinkets. But I feel totally awkward if I don't bring her anything at all. I haven't seen her for 12 years. Do you have any ideas what I can bring her ?
7 responses
@allknowing (130064)
• India
26 Jan 10
You can take some consumer articles like some eatables, cosmetics, perfumes. Anything from this category will be fine I think. Nothing that she should stock somewhere as she has already warned you that she has enough of that.
@Godmother (476)
• Indonesia
1 Feb 10
I'll be going on the 10 th of February, and I'll surely let you know. I'm exited too. thanks for your concern. Have a great day.
@Godmother (476)
• Indonesia
30 Jan 10
Yes, I went to see my mother to gather some old pics, and she said my aunt loves chiffon cake. I'll bring her that with a bottle of her favorite perfume.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
23 Jan 10
I like the idea of a picture of you that you've framed. Also if you do any kind of craft a hand made item from you would be a great memento. I would refrain from giving cash as it is so impersonal and unimaginative.
I love getting hand made items, especially if it is something that would fit into my life style. Holland gets very cold during the winter, how about a hand knit scarf and hat? It is something that is useful and she would remember you each time she uses it. I also give magazine subscriptions because each month the person receives a reminder that I care about them.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
24 Jan 10
SHE'LL LOVE IT!!! My granddaughter and I did something similar for my daughter. She had problems with her dad and ended up in foster care (she was 15 and didn't want to live with me, plus it was impossible as I live in the country 30 miles from the nearest town). She lost all her pictures, and since I had copies of them we put them into a memory book and gave it to her for Mother's day. My daughter was thrilled.
Your idea is super great, and I know that she will love it. Have fun making it for her, and remember to lavish plenty of love spirit on it. Hand created gifts always emanate the love you feel for the person you're giving it to.
Your idea is contagious. I'm going to do something like that for my BF for Valentines Day! He will love having it on his bedroom wall. (There are no framed pictures on his walls, his house looks like a room from a prison...only prison walls are more interesting than his walls.
@Godmother (476)
• Indonesia
24 Jan 10
The idea of the picture frame is touching. I don't think I have time to knit, but you just gave me an idea to create a collage of photos from way back,
of the family and her in it. What do you think ? Great idea huh ? ? Thanks a lot.
of the family and her in it. What do you think ? Great idea huh ? ? Thanks a lot.
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
23 Jan 10
I see you are from Indonesia. I am sure your aunt will like something Indonesian - something small, maybe ornamental, or maybe something personal life a scarf, but something that would be very different from anything she would have in Holland.
@Godmother (476)
• Indonesia
24 Jan 10
A scarf may be easier to find in Indonesia, because our traditional gown is always worn accompanied with a long scarf. Thanks for reminding me.
@Buchi_bulla (8298)
• India
24 Jan 10
If you have any of her old photoes or any video clippings in which she is there like any function in which she has participated, then take it.
@Godmother (476)
• Indonesia
24 Jan 10
Yes, I'm going to my mothers house on wednesday, and search her photo collection to see if I can make a collage of them. Thanks Buchi Bulla.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
25 Jan 10
i was just about to say something similar to the other response. bring her a photo album fixed up with pics of the family from back as far as you might have or else maybe you have some recent ones of a visit or trip or something. im not sure what she likes to do or i could help more. clothes or something? books? maybe a gift certificate. you cant go wrong with that.
@Godmother (476)
• Indonesia
30 Jan 10
yes I went to my mother and found some old time great pictures of them when they were young and some from about 15 years ago with us. My mom also mentioned her favorite perfume when she was young. I'll bring her that too. Thanks for sharing bunnybon 7.
@advokatku (4033)
• Indonesia
23 Jan 10
because her house had too many knick-knacks, while you still want to bring a keepsake gift for his ... you might give memento in the form of money .... my mean, you give her cash, so she can buy what she likes ...
@Godmother (476)
• Indonesia
24 Jan 10
Thank you for giving me your idea, but Loverbear is right... I don't think money is the right thing to give. One, she's rich. Two, she says she never goes out shopping anymore because of the cold weather and her age.
@louierrific24 (1114)
• Philippines
23 Jan 10
Bring her a picture of you and her of 12 years ago. Frame it and viola it's the best gift you could give an 83 year old.
@Godmother (476)
• Indonesia
24 Jan 10
I'll try to dig in my mother's photo collection and see if she has any of my aunts pictures. Unfortunately we didn't make any photos 12 years ago as she came to visit only for 2 days and we only chatted in the hotel room. But my mom may have kept something from earlier years. Thanks a lot for your idea.
