Here's a question for everyone. My parents' birthdays are tomorrow and thursday. What do you give a man for his 88th birthday, and a woman for her 80th? We will go visit them for the weekend.
Sara, I would like to share this with you from my own experiences with my grandparents and even my parents. I learned that when they get old that "surprise" parties is certainly not the way to go.....in case you or somebody else were planning that event. Even if they are in very good health, it tends to throw them a bit and makes them......shall I say, "nervous", or almost to the point of shock. In fact, they can be so thrown off by the surprise that they can't get their "barrings", so to speak, enough to fully enjoy the party. I also learned that the biggest part of a birthday party for them, is looking "forward" to the actual event taking place. They get so excited waiting in anticipation.
As far as a gift.....that is hard. Certainly not more "junk" to put around. However, I did get a gift for my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary that was a plaque that had a silver tree and had all the kids and grandchildren's names with their birthstones. That seem to be special to them. Women like a "throw" cover or blanket that has the names of family members. Anything that is family orientated.....you know with names of the kids and grandchildren, great-grandchildren (lol). Something sentimental goes a long way. Not knowing the man and his personality makes it kind of hard to think of something. If he has a great sense of humor......he might love a great gag gift. That goes for the woman, also. Or if there was something that would bring back special memories for them when they were very young......like an old record album or a pinup picture of a famous actor/actress in their day. Something funny or sentimental.
Planning a night out or a trip or anything that involves very much travel or moving about a lot would depend on the health. Being around a large crowd......it depends so much on their mobility and health.....and nerves. Things they are not use to makes them very nervous at that age.
Well, good luck. I know it isn't easy. My grandparents lived a long time, too, so I am mostly basing this from those experiences and from other elderly people I have known.
Sandi
It is not about what you feel should work in your M. It is about doing the work that gets the right results. Do what works!
