ALT-1 Fathers Day Gift Ideas
When I was growing up, my sister and I gave my dad the same gag gift every year, a very ugly tie. Each year we would drag the old thing out of the closet and wrap it elaborately. Of course, we also had a nice gift for him. But it was fun to see his expression when he unwrapped the tie. First his eyes would get big. He would stammer and thank us. Then it would dawn on him where he'd seen that ugly thing before and he would start laughing. After teasing him a bit, we would finally bring out the "good" present. Ironically, I remember the tie more than the expensive gifts we bought him through the years. That was a fun tradition.
This begs the question about what is a meaningful and great Father's Day gift. Some of the most popular gifts for men are electronics, the ubiquitous tie, sportswear, athletic equipment, gadgets, and barbeque equipment. However, this is a time to put our imaginations and knowledge of our dads to the test and come up with some original gifts, too.
Here are some suggestions for gifts tailored to your dad's interests and personality:
For the man who already has everything, buy tickets to an event such as a baseball game.
If your dad likes music, buy tickets to a concert he would enjoy.
Purchase a one-hour massage at a spa.
Rent a boat for the afternoon and take him fishing.
Borrow his car for a few hours and give it the VIP treatment: wash and wax, oil change, tune- up, and carpet shampoo.
Send him somewhere for a day and surprise him by cleaning and organizing the garage. Paint the floor and put up some shelving and tool organizers.
Contact some of his old buddies he hasn't seen for a while and invite them over for a surprise barbeque for your dad.
Dig through a collection of old family photos and have them put on a CD.
Buy your folks an airline ticket to a destination of their dreams. This could be a combo Mother's Day and Father's Day gift.
If you are short on money, write him a long letter listing all the reasons why you respect and appreciate him. Walk down memory lane in your letter and talk about times past: funny memories, exciting ones, times that you tried his patience, and times that he gave you wise advice.
Make a collage of favorite photos and objects. Put them in a shadow box.
Does your dad have a favorite childhood food that is hard to come by? On one occasion, I contacted a bakery that specialized in Norwegian foods and had them ship some of their confections to my dad. Another time I sent him a goody basket filled with Snicker's bars because that is his favorite candy.
Great gifts are those that demonstrate you have really thought about the recipient and are honoring their interests and personality. Large or small, expensive or not, a great gift comes from the heart. But the greatest gift of all is to be present, to give of yourself.Don't put off that call or visit. Honor your father by valuing every opportunity you have to share with him.
