Father's Day Gift Ideas

  I love my dad. He's smart, is armed with a Capricorn's dry wit, and he's a hard-working man. He's a retired Plant Operations Engineer who worked at Chicago State University for about 34 years. He's an easygoing fellow, fairly private. He loves to shoot pool in the basement and seems to be mad about hardwood floors. He's not a difficult man to get along with, but he's a hard man to shop for. What do I get the man who has everything?





  I tend to be straightforward with my father when it comes to gifting. I hate to get him things that are going to gather dust, become a cup coaster, or find their way to his white shelf of doom. When things come up such as his birthday, Father's Day, or Christmas, I honestly don't know what to get him. He's covered with cologne. He only wears ties when he's going out somewhere very special. Before I can think to get him a movie, he'll go to Sam's Club and get the box set. What else is left?

  It's a challenge, that's for sure. While candy and snacks aren't ruled out, I want something with a little more thought. He loves Star Trek, but claims he's not as interested in the novelty. He did say gourmet nuts were fine. Gourmet nuts. *Sigh* Peanuts, cashews, almonds. "Especially peanuts", he says. Fine fine. But this is the man who raised me from drooling curly top to Bohemian, self-employed tutor and transcriber in college. He's the man who taught me finance and tactic. I can't just give him nuts. When I asked him about candy, he reminded me that his dentist scolded him about gummy things. That means none of his favorites like Swedish Fish or gummy bears.

  I decided to make my own Father's Day basket. Not gonna complicate it, not gonna lose my mind over it. I'm gonna put things in there that I know he'll like. A jar of cookies from Vat19, gourmet peanuts from either Amazon or Figi's, and some little candies sprinkled in the basket. There ya go. If I see a nice shirt for him to workout in, I'll toss that in there too. Toss in Sade's new DVD of her Tour and boom. Done. Put it all in a nice green basket, stick a card on there and keep it moving.

  Complicating gifts has mixed results, sometimes. I found that out this past Christmas when I tried to be the ultimate gifting lady. Not only did I end up somewhere in the middle, but most of the people I gifted (mainly the kids) seem to have forgotten about their gifts and where they came from. The "gifting lady" isn't gonna do that expensive crap again. So, that's my gifting idea for this season--basket of goodies with items suggested by the gifting target. Simple, easy, no drab faces. He wants nuts, he gets nuts. :-P When in doubt, just ask.