OK, so I run into this dilemma every year. What is a great gift for my dad? Whether it be Christmas, Fathers Day, or his birthday. I'm calling on hornfans to help drum up some great Christmas gift ideas for the old man. I usually always get him gift cards, but that seems redundant after awhile. Here's a little about him: he's a modern day hippie who lives in the country outside of Brenham. He loves to cook, he loves beer/whiskey/tequila. He's a great musician. He loves to grow stuff in his garden. He loves carpentry. He loves new gadgets (he bought a PS3 way before I ever got one). Only stipulation is that I'll be driving from Nashville to Brenham, so I would prefer the gift be able to fit in my car. Thanks and
The length of your drive would be FAR more moving to THIS dad than any trinket you might present to him. If the old men need gifts, then we don't deserve to be visited. Just an old guy thing... ...
Ask him if there's anything he needs or wants. I have the same problem with my dad (86) (and my mom, who is 82), he doesn't really need anything, so I just ask if there's anything he's been wanting for his birthday or Christmas. Often he says "nothing", but he usually surprises me by asking for a specific thing, like a certain DVD, CD, book, UT-or Dallas Cowboy-related item (like a new hat or jacket). For your dad, the obvious answer to me would be a good quality bottle of Tequila or Whiskey. Or, ask and see if he needs/wants a new tool for his shop or garden. Or get him a sub to a gardening or woodworking magazine
If he's a real garden freak, and works his soil, get him a grubbing hoe (see link). This thing is SO easy on the body... for most uses, you don't have to bend over - like with a garden fork (or something). I have one - good quality/price beater
Nick, that sounds just like something my dad would say! I know he doesn't need gifts, but it is Christmas and I'm more of a giver than a receiver. But, I do understand what you mean. Thanks for the ideas so far everyone and keep 'em coming!
I am more of a giver than a reciever as well. I really never get anything that I actually want, but whatever. If his passions are, and I mean passions, gardening and music then you probably can only disappoint in those fields. He KNOWS what he really desires and he probably already has them (the desired stuff). If you knew of things in this area you wouldn't be asking. As a guy who is looking to empty his nest and one who will be looking at an empty nest, the greatest gift I could receive is a successful launch and therafter (I'm just guessing) I would want more than anything to know what is going on with my son and to have a little part in it. I don't have a sku number for that. It's not the coolness, it's the thought. A printout of this thread where you expressed your desire to do something cool for him would make me choke up if you were my son.
Give him a "Do something together" gift. Give him a guided fishing trip for the two of you. Buy concert tickets for some performer you would both enjoy seeing. Go to some techie hardware show together (I would recommend Vegas, but I don't know how your dad would feel about that trip!). The important thing is to do something you would both enjoy doing - and that will give you a great memory long after he is gone.
Get him Super Street Fighter 4 for PS3 along with a Tournament Edition Fightstick. Buy yourself the same setup, teach him how to play online, then whenever you two battle it out let him win.
You mentioned tequila, other spirits. There are nicer ones that he might not buy for himself. Gardening? There are real nice tools, that make it easier, like the one mentioned above, but many choices there. If he loves cooking, there are great gift items at Williams-Sonoma-great kitchen knives from Germany and Japan, gadgets-he might not buy that quality stuff for himself. Or arrange a blind date with a girl who went to Woodstock.
When in doubt, buy memories. The man who has everything could always use more of those and they mean more than material goods. Kazoo is right.
I don't disagree about material things not being important, but kids like to give gifts. Even thirty something kids like my daughters. The things I receive from them that stand out are those that I see or use daily, like the bracelet my girls gave 17 years ago for Father's Day that I'm never without or the comfy house shoes I received last Christmas that I wear every day or the electric brad nailer for my last birthday. That will come in handy this weekend when I start building Blue Bird houses I'll give them this Christmas.
I really like the saying that the best things in life are not things. I RARELY get something I actually want and I certainly WANT some things. My electric brad nailer was stolen and I'd like one of those and they aren't ungodly expensive, but what I REALLY want is a certain portable screen so I can show movies to the kids out at the hill country place my parents have. It's basically a mousetrap with cheese in it. I need one of those also.
My mother was an avid gardener. She grew almost all our vegetables, and her flowerbeds were divine (she grew great banks of azaleas in the Post Oak Belt!). One year, I was at a loss of what to get her for Christmas, so I asked her what she wanted. She responded with one word: Worms. See, as a gardener, she knew the value of worms in the soil, as they provide valuable nitrogen for the growth of plants. Worms are among the gardener's best friends. So I gave my mother worms. Lots of them. It was what she wanted. Now, maybe your dad doesn't want worms. But if he doesn't have a compost pile, you could build one for him when you visit for Christmas. That would be a gift that keeps on giving and he would value the work you put into it.
I'm with KazooMan. As an older empty nester my best times now with any of the kids is doing something I like to do with them. The only one still living nearby will come over occasionally to use the garage or tools and we work on things like his car, together. Best times - really. So if there is something in the music - restoring an old instrument, etc. or doing something around the gardening - building a new bed - compost pile - whatever that you can provide materials, detail plans - anything to bring the two of you together on a project, that will mean a lot - trust me. Even going to the other kids for Christmas (in Tenn by the way) my favorite times are the one-on-ones when we are just doing something together. Has nothing to do with the 'gifting' just an activity together. And having five kids I do have to admit I love the one - on - ones that somehow they each seem to manage for just a bit of time. Man - family is EVERYTHING! Hookem
Here's my idea - buy a really fine bottle of whiskey - one that he would never buy for himself. Then tie a bunch of little notes to it, and tell him to read one everytime he takes a drink. On the notes, write the things that have been the most important to you as his son, or something memorable that you did together, or some piece of advice that really helped you once. That will be the gift that keeps on giving, and he can look at those notes long after the bottle is empty.
