So my parents are going to be celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary in just over a month and I am not really sure what to get them. Traditionally, ruby is the gift for the 40th anniversary (red symbolizes eternal passion or something) and the flower is a nasturtium. I could easily get some ruby jewelry for my mom, but that doesn't have anything to do with my dad. Plus he is a farmer, so wearing jewelry around farm machinery is a safety hazard. Also, my mom just turned 60 last fall and we had a big party for her; I asked if they wanted a party for their anniversary and they said, "No." I also live halfway across the country from them, so trying to get photos and make a scrapbook/memory book or something like that is out of the question.


They are coming to visit me in NYC in two weeks, maybe I could arrange for something for just the two of them to do while they are here, but what?


They are just your average midwestern parents -- they don't really like anything too crazy or pretentiously fancy.

Please

How about a professional portrait of your entire family? We just did that for my folks's 50th and they loved it.

They didn't want a party, either - the portrait was all my mother really wanted.

Would they like something like this?

http://www.tybinc.com/cid...amics.html

Maybe the Family Portrait or the Family Tree platter?

Or is that too corny?

Genesia said:

Hmm, that's a good idea; thanks for the suggestion. I know my mom would really like that. But I HATE, DETEST, LOATH having my photo taken. (Yes, I suppose I could suffer through it for the greater good.) The bigger issue is logistics: My bro, s.i.l. and their kids live in Iowa near my parents, while I'm here in NYC, and I'm not sure of the next time I'll be back in Iowa. And there is no way my s.i.l. will come to NYC.

PunkMistress said:

Too corny for me, but my mom would probably like it. She has knick-knacks and crap all over the house and loves having family over for holidays, picnics, etc. Thanks!

jone70 said:

I figured it wasn't anything you yourself would be into, but you said "average Midwestern couple." Looks like stuff I'd see in the homes of nice Midwestern families.

And you don't have to pose for a picture!

PunkMistress said:

That totally the kind of stuff they like where I grew up. Actually, after poking around that site some more, I think I might get them a gift certificate for a memory quilt. That way my mom & dad can choose the pictures they want (like pics of my grandparents, etc.). I'm going to call my brother and see if he wants to go in on it with me.


(And maybe we can do a self-taken family portrait next time I visit.)

jone70 said:

I dunno, maybe steal a copy of their wedding vows, write it down, whatever, have a professional calligrapher make it look all nice and pretty and professionally frame it. Then surprise them with it.

Probably a dumb idea, but that's all I've got.

jone70 said:

Well, you don't necessarily have to have it for the actual anniversary. My parents' anniversary was in May, but we didn't have the portrait taken until August - when my youngest sister was off school. And we had logistical issues, too - I and two of my sisters live in Wisconsin, another sister is in California and my folks live in Arizona. We just made up our minds to make it happen.

Genesia said:

I'm thinking this might be a good xmas gift. I'll have a better idea by then when I'll probably next visit IA.

FauxReal said:

Not a dumb idea; but I don't know where, or even if, they have their wedding vows written down. They had a pretty no-frills wedding, small town Iowa style: wedding in the church, lunch downstairs after, that was it. No dance/reception or anything. I'm not even sure if they went on a honeymoon.