94th birthday?!!

he's also going to do a written test for renewing his driver's license in a few days. this man is sharper than most people i know. he was even riding his motorcycle up until a few short years ago. i'd say a pair of hearing aids, since you have to talk a bit loudly during conversation; but he doesn't like wearing them and told us he prefers to shut out all the garbage he hears around him anyway. smart man. and they're expensive. lol. his wife passed about 20 years ago, his daughter lives out of town , and his son seems to be a bit lazy. ok..a lot. he even tells us he is.

we see him every Sunday. he tells us all his stories about way back when, etc.. he's kind of our adopted grandfather. so, just wanted to wish him a happy birthday and show appreciation for this great guy. last year it was a cupcake and a card. he was sooooo excited. you thought he won the lotto!!! lol. so this year i'd like to go a step above that. but don't want to get him too excited.

suggestions??

thanks in advance!!

[Edited 8/2/10 21:36pm]

Big A4 sized photo book of your family!

I gave my grandma that for her 100th, she was thrilled.

If you guys are as close as the real thing, that would probably suit him too

thats a wonderful idea!!

i really dont know what to tell you about gifts tho..

simple things..

im not much good at this..

the oldest person i know ( i think)

just passed away the 26th of july..she was 92..

she was the girlfriend of my stepdad's dad

and even after he died many years ago they kept in touch..

she really was a gramma..

she always seemed happy to visitors

and you could make her cry just giving her a stuffed animal..

yeah.. at that age.. he seems delightful

i am one of those people that older people seem drawn to..

and children

makes me wanna hear his stories

maybe embellish on the cupcake and card..

get one of those mini cakes and a card of course

and some simple thing you'll know he'll enjoy..

easy does it

if i think of something i'll be back..

ZombieKitten said:

Big A4 sized photo book of your family!

I gave my grandma that for her 100th, she was thrilled.

If you guys are as close as the real thing, that would probably suit him too

great idea. BUT...it's just coming from a co-worker and myself. or maybe just me. i guess i should've specified that. we're not that close but since my grandparents have passed, it's almost like he's filled in. he really is a very very cool man. he likes the simple things. like reading his sunday paper, taking long naps lol. he use to golf, but as he tells us, most of his friends have passed on. though always happy from what i can tell.

peb319 said:

if i think of something i'll be back..

thanks. i was thinking about a little bigger cake, but i think a cupcake is good enough to get him through the week. LOL.

CHIC0 said:

ZombieKitten said:

Big A4 sized photo book of your family!

I gave my grandma that for her 100th, she was thrilled.

If you guys are as close as the real thing, that would probably suit him too

great idea. BUT...it's just coming from a co-worker and myself. or maybe just me. i guess i should've specified that. we're not that close but since my grandparents have passed, it's almost like he's filled in. he really is a very very cool man. he likes the simple things. like reading his sunday paper, taking long naps lol. he use to golf, but as he tells us, most of his friends have passed on. though always happy from what i can tell.

Old people are hard to get gifts, they are pretty much done with "stuff"

ZombieKitten said:

CHIC0 said:

great idea. BUT...it's just coming from a co-worker and myself. or maybe just me. i guess i should've specified that. we're not that close but since my grandparents have passed, it's almost like he's filled in. he really is a very very cool man. he likes the simple things. like reading his sunday paper, taking long naps lol. he use to golf, but as he tells us, most of his friends have passed on. though always happy from what i can tell.

Old people are hard to get gifts, they are pretty much done with "stuff"

thanks!!! good point! after 94 years, what HASN'T he seen or experienced??

CHIC0 said:

ZombieKitten said:

Old people are hard to get gifts, they are pretty much done with "stuff"

thanks!!! good point! after 94 years, what HASN'T he seen or experienced??

and their tastebuds aren't what they used to be, so they like really sweet things and salty things

Ask them is there something they have always wanted to do.

My Granny is 93, and my Grandma is 96.

Like Charlotte said, both of them really like sweets.

Grandma is in a nursing home in SC, so my Dad always buys her candy bars. Granny lives next door to my parents, so my sister and I sneak her goodies when my Mom isn't around.

My parents get them practical things, like slippers or nightgowns.

Bunjee Jump?

Take an indication from something he has talked about from his past, try to find a photo or post card or small antique from a similar time to evoke memories.

Bottle of whiskey?

Something ultra modern that will blow his mind, a new kind of food or set up a skype with someone in China or other far off place (I dunno how switched on he is..... My grandma thought pasta was weird food!!)

ZombieKitten said:

CHIC0 said:

great idea. BUT...it's just coming from a co-worker and myself. or maybe just me. i guess i should've specified that. we're not that close but since my grandparents have passed, it's almost like he's filled in. he really is a very very cool man. he likes the simple things. like reading his sunday paper, taking long naps lol. he use to golf, but as he tells us, most of his friends have passed on. though always happy from what i can tell.

Old people are hard to get gifts, they are pretty much done with "stuff"

Exactly.

That said, is there anything he needs in terms of clothing? Folks that age have a hard time getting out to shop - and things can get old and worn without them even realizing it. Fleece is nice - warm, soft and practically weightless. If you buy clothing, get something that buttons or zips in front - a lot of older people have trouble getting things on and off over their heads.

Sounds like you already give him his favorite gift of all, though - your time.

How about a massage?

tinaz said:

How about a massage?

You wanna kill him?

Oh! Did you mean a massage massage?

A pair of comfy bedroom slippers. Or a cool insulated cup/mug.

tinaz said:

How about a massage?

A nice idea, but be careful. Older folks may have skin conditions you don't know about and that might make massage difficult or dangerous. For example, my 93-year-old grandmother just developed psoriasis in the last couple years.

And men of that generation are a lot less likely to be into the "pampering" thing.

PANDURITO said:

tinaz said:

How about a massage?

You wanna kill him?

Oh! Did you mean a massage massage?

The kind of massage that doesnt come with a Happy Ending!!

Genesia said:

tinaz said:

How about a massage?

A nice idea, but be careful. Older folks may have skin conditions you don't know about and that might make massage difficult or dangerous. For example, my 93-year-old grandmother just developed psoriasis in the last couple years.

And men of that generation are a lot less likely to be into the "pampering" thing.

When I worked in a nursing home the residents LOVED to have lotion rubbed on their feet and hands and such.. Not only does it feel good, but they love to be touched... NOT GROSSLY either... Im not saying give em a deep tissue rub down... Im sure any liscensed massage therapist would know how to do it...

tinaz said:

Genesia said:

A nice idea, but be careful. Older folks may have skin conditions you don't know about and that might make massage difficult or dangerous. For example, my 93-year-old grandmother just developed psoriasis in the last couple years.

And men of that generation are a lot less likely to be into the "pampering" thing.

When I worked in a nursing home the residents LOVED to have lotion rubbed on their feet and hands and such.. Not only does it feel good, but they love to be touched... NOT GROSSLY either... Im not saying give em a deep tissue rub down... Im sure any liscensed massage therapist would know how to do it...

Gotcha. I was thinking of the kind of massage I get.

I once had a therapist tell me that if anyone did to her what she did to me (in terms of deep tissue work), she'd get up off the table and slap them.

Genesia said:

tinaz said:

When I worked in a nursing home the residents LOVED to have lotion rubbed on their feet and hands and such.. Not only does it feel good, but they love to be touched... NOT GROSSLY either... Im not saying give em a deep tissue rub down... Im sure any liscensed massage therapist would know how to do it...

Gotcha. I was thinking of the kind of massage I get.

I once had a therapist tell me that if anyone did to her what she did to me (in terms of deep tissue work), she'd get up off the table and slap them.

Oh lord no! I dont wanna kill anyone! I dont like the deep tissue stuff either! But they can go to town on my feet!

Genesia said:

ZombieKitten said:

Old people are hard to get gifts, they are pretty much done with "stuff"

Exactly.

That said, is there anything he needs in terms of clothing? Folks that age have a hard time getting out to shop - and things can get old and worn without them even realizing it. Fleece is nice - warm, soft and practically weightless. If you buy clothing, get something that buttons or zips in front - a lot of older people have trouble getting things on and off over their heads.

Sounds like you already give him his favorite gift of all, though - your time.

i was thinking about a shirt. thanks for the tip about buttons. didn't think about the over the head thing.

tinaz said:

How about a massage?

PREDOMINANT said:

Bunjee Jump?

ummm...no!

Poiple said:

A pair of comfy bedroom slippers. Or a cool insulated cup/mug.