My friend turned 93 years old and her husband soon turns 94. I give a Christmas gift and a birthday gift. It is hard to know what they want or will even appreciate. My friend who turned 94 before she died gave me hints even though that was 30 or more years ago.
My friend loved gift certificates to her favorite restaurant. She did not want to eat out. She wanted enough to treat others. She loved to treat her family and friends and she was not able to cook for a crowd, or even herself.
Gifts I have given my present friend--an azalea to plant since she loved her yard. It died. She has two bluebirds hanging in a dogwood tree. So, I made a cardinal and she hung that up, too. She gave up having a Christmas tree, so I gave her the red Hershey's Kiss with remote controlled lights.
Now, it is her birthday, so we got her a gift card for Chicken Salad Chick. My knee has slowed me down plus recovering from covid. So, I am late. I called her the day before her birthday and mailed a birthday card the day after. Today, we went to Chicken Salad Chick and purchased her a gift card. She has never eaten there. Well, I was praising it, so she may have gone there lately. I will have to mail that. I will make it clear this is for both their birthdays.
Of course, I had my quarterly CSC for myself. That was dinner. Tommy suggested going to the park. Sitting in a park, even in Homewood this late in the day would scare me. We ate in the parking lot outside CSC. I got my usual, Classic Carol and loaded baked potato soup.
As we sat there, there was a steady stream of young people and a few middle aged who were eating in an outdoor eating area just beyond the CSC. There were apartments, probably pricey ones, nearby. It reminded me of a few years ago, okay 30 years ago, when I would have been all for this. When I was at UAB, friends and I often walked to places to eat or for entertainment.
This place is too close to Cookie Fix and a chocolate place. I cannot have them all at once! It is all such a temptation but necessitates a long trip just for a treat. I don't need treats like these, so it is just as well it is such a chore to drive there.
Last night, we went to bed at 3 am. I had my four-hour sleep, got up at 8 am, sat here on laptop until almost 9 am and then slept until 2:30 pm. I felt wonderful by 3 pm. Once in a while, this happens with or without a nap. Sometimes, I do not nap and still have this type sleep.
We have a few things to do just because they need doing. If the cleaner comes on Sunday, we do try to have a few things done. I suppose she will either come or not. She never gives me a warning either way. But, she is good and free, so I can handle it. I would really like to find someone to pay. But, I gladly accept her help.
My elderly neighbor who loved the restaurant gift cards told me about the presents she received each year. When she died, her daughter showed me the dozens of nightgowns and sweaters in drawers, gifts she could never use when alive and certainly not after she died. Every year, she told all she got for Christmas, Mother's Day, and her birthday. She was never happy about the sweaters and nightgowns.
Since the couple never cooks now, maybe gift cards for restaurants will be the best thing for them. The will be leaving their lovely yard to move into a new duplex with a bare yard. She said she sat on the porch and cried about leaving their yard. Maybe a Lowe's gift card would work from now on so they could get what they want or need for the yard.
Neither my elderly friend or this couple needed/needs clothing or food or furniture. They are related to a car dealer, so meals out or yard stuff seems like the best option for them. They really enjoy both.
Tommy says we can have Chicken Salad Chick every three months, so I am looking forward to July.
Do you have a gift you give to someone elderly that is always appreciated? I know clothing, food, or maybe hair care might be their choice. But, otherwise what is a generic gift you give to elderly who have no pressing needs? Of course, the elderly friend loved her restaurant of choice. And, this couple have never expressed a favorite place. They even go out for lunch! Recently, she expressed surprise at how delicious Taco Bell was on their first ever visit.
A gift for the elderly still living in their own home and driving?
