Image courtesy Stockvault
So over the weekend we got ourselves a fake - er I mean "artificial" - tree. I used to abhor the idea of a fake tree. Probably because they used to look fake. But now they don't. Now there are some really nice ones. And there's no fussing with light strings. No needles to sweep up every two seconds. Nothing to be watered. No fuss, no mess, all joy. And no need to go out in the cold and buy a tree that was killed for our convenience each year. The only thing missing is the evergreen scent, and you can get that in a candle these days.
So as I sit in my comfy chair and write this post while gazing at our beautiful fake tree, I now am trying to come up with gifts that are no fuss, no mess. Easy, yet amazing. I encounter a big blank slate each Christmas with my Dad.
Why are fathers so challenging to shop for? Probably because they are happy with a handful of things. And once they have them they are pretty set. My dad golfs. Therefore over the years, we have all procured for him every golf related item known to mankind. He could open his own golf shop at this point with all of the stuff we've given him. That hobby is all set. He is retired now, so he just goes out and buys whatever those few other things are that he wants. Which leaves slim pickins for the rest of us.
One year, while at a Patriots game, I overheard the people sitting behind us talking about a replica leg lamp from the movie "A Christmas Story" that they had ordered as a gag gift for someone. Well. If there is something that my father loves more than golf and his family, it is that movie. I found the lamp, complete with a shipping box stamped "FRAGILE," and gave him the best present ever. He loves that lamp. My mom lets him display it front and center during the holidays - she gets a kick out of it too. We all do. But now I am forever doomed. Nothing I give from this day forward will ever top that damn lamp.
So I need to know - what is the best present you ever gave your Dad? It could be that your awesome gift is something I haven't thought of yet. Something that would be perfect for my father this year. Maybe it isn't quite leg lamp caliber, but at this point I need all the help I can get.
12 comments:
Oh, damn, you really are never going to top that leg lamp! At this point you might as well go with a tie! Best present I ever gave my dad? Autographed football signed by the Green Bay Packers that my husband won at an auction for him.
My dad has always been impossible to buy for. He does fish, and he covets sports cars, but generally he ends up with clothes or gift cards to places like Bass Pro, Gander Mountain and Sears. Sadly, I can't even think of one particular present that I've been proud of. Honestly, he loves the personalized calendar I make every year at Shutterfly with the kids pictures. *sigh*
1. Did you know that the leg lamp is also available as a string of lights? Not sure where, but I bet Amazon carries it.
2. My dad is tough to buy for, too. However, I've come up with something for him this year... since we rarely if ever do anything together, I'm taking him to a movie I think he'll like. Just the two of us.
When I was visiting home a couple of years ago, I ran across an old sketch book of my dad's that I know he had not looked at for decades. I picked the best sketch in the book (a charcoal drawing of a crow) and had it framed up nicely. He LOVED it for so many reasons. It made him proud, it reminded him of his more artistic days, and he was pleased that I took the care and interest in preserving/presenting it.
Funny...this year, I'm having a real tree instead of a fake...first time in many years!
One year, I found a water color my Dad's Aunt had made of a summer home they used to have...I had it framed and he loved it.
Early in my first marriage, we got the fake tree and used it for many, many years. Not traditional, but much easier. Now, every year we get the real one because it's what Mary wants, and as any married man knows, "if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".
As for dad, you're right, it's a tough buy because especially at an older age they pretty much have everything they want or need. My parents live in Florida. Every year, we just get them gift cards to their favorite restaurants. Occasionally for something different, I'll get them gift certs to their local car wash, and one year we got them tickets to a show in their area.
I think they're better gifts than buying them something just so they have an actual present to open.
Happy shopping Molly.
I 'abhorred' the fake tree for years, and then we 'succumbed' two years ago. Never look back, never surrender.
On the dad front - can't help ya. Although - how about a needle felted Bumbles? I'm just sayin'...
LOVE the leg lamp idea. Too funny. We were just this morning discussing what to get dear old dad. I did see some bacon chapstick on line not long ago and thought, hmmm, perfect for the man who has everything. But I think this year we will opt for a San Francisco Giants championship hat (because, for once -- we can ;)). Truly, I don't think I've ever gotten my dad something he loved. He is not easy to buy for and gets himself whatever it is he wants. Aaah, well, I will keep trying.
I had to have a fake tree or get a divorce. Mr. J is not a fan of Christmas :) I am an extreme fan of Christmas.
Love that you got your dad the leg lamp. I think we'd all like one of those :)
My dad loved exotic dinners. I had him over every Christmas Eve and fixed him something strange :)
On ESPN every weekday at 5:30 there's a show called "Pardon the Interruption" and they have the leg lamp in the background on set, very funny. Some ideas: one of those back massage pads that you put onto an easy chair, some are pretty good. A remote-controlled helicopter (small scale model), men love them. Wireless headphones to watch TV without interrupting others. Great post by the way!
Dads are hard. My Dad loves Mike & Mike on espn and I went to one of their book signings and gave him a signed copy for Father's Day. He loved it. Also, through a friend of a friend I got Jim Tressel (OSU coach) to sign a pic wishing my dad a happy birthday. I'll never be able to top that!
Sorry, I can't beat the leg lamp! My dad is impossible to buy for also so we wimp out and get him gift certificates to the car wash. We really need to be more imaginative!
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