My great great aunt is turning 100 in May. Normally aunts and unles only get cards on their birthdays but this is a special birthday and I want to get her SOMETHING... But what? I mean... She's 100. I think she pretty much owns everything she wants to own,
A few years ago she had to move out of her home, where she had lived since she was born, and into the basement of her nephews town home (She refused to stop gardening even after she broke her hip TWICE while out in her garden). I know she misses her house and I'm a photographer so I was thinking of going and taking pictures in and around her house (Its right next to my parents house and is condemned due to the extremely old electrical wiring so I know that nobody is living in it), but I'm not sure her nephew would let me into the house since he and I don't get along. I also don't know how much of her stuff has been moved or is in boxes.
What else could I do?
I garden and take pics of the flowers. If I were 100, I would love for someone to dig up some of my perennials and get me something to garden in. Maybe a big feeding trough or a half barrel kind of planter. Stock it with some annuals, too and put it on the porch for me! Or take very close up picks of my flowers.
I would do something that combined spending time and doing what she loves.
Perhaps you could bring all the stuff it takes to make her a container garden, including all her favorites to put in the containers, and then let her tell you where to put each of the plants in the containers. You do all the work and heavy lifting, and she enjoys the results. Perhaps she could remove the smaller annuals from their garden center containers and massage the roots for you to put in their permanent containers.
A big ole box of peace and quiet! :)
Get her one of those almanacs, books or newspapers that looks like it was printed the year she was born.
Get her a journal that has a life question on each page like "who was the first boy you kissed" or "what was a popular song when you got married". You can ask her the questions and fill it out for her. Or, record her giving her answers, like a TV interview.
I love the idea of a house picture. Maybe even if her garden is still there, certain shots of that. How exciting. Even if just an exterior if nephew won't let you in would be a nice memento.
is her eyesight still good? if so - a photo album of her life and times would be great!
IF she still likes to garden - why not do a "living wall" garden? You would do a "structure" like a ladder (or bigger) and put a vertical garden pot on it...like this...
so she can still garden and not risk breaking her hip or anything else.
How about a digital frame so she can look at various pictures, including pictures of her house? I haven't looked at digital frames lately, but you can probably get one that shows videos too. Maybe you can take a video of some of her great great great-grandchildren singing happy birthday to her to display on the frame too?
It can't hurt to ask, especially since it's for a centennial birthday. Probably just the exterior would be fine. Do you have any older pictures of the house when it was in good shape? Do you have pictures of her?
When my father-in-law turned 90, my husband and his sisters gave him ninety gold dollars. I don't know if he spent them or not, but he sure got a kick out of it as a gift.
There are some cute things you can do by way of a card or a letter. After all, what can you do when you're 100? Anything you want! People will cheer you no matter what - they're just amazed you're still alive and kicking! And the ninety-nine-year-olds are jealous! :^)
How about a plant? If she enjoyed gardening she might just enjoy a plant to take care of or look at depending on her capabilities.
Just take a picture of the house, blow it up and frame it. Would not bother to try and do the inside. She will love it.
Make her a photo book with pictures of family and flowers.
Instead of getting her something, can you do something with her? Take her to a movie, out for ice cream (smuggle some into the nursing home), something that isn't a material item.
Or, what about a card shower? Send a postcard to family/friends/relatives and have them write a their favorite memory of her and send it to her in a greeting card. Inexpensive for all involved, but I bet she would love it!
i think a picture is an excellent idea-put a nice frame on it-i think shed love it..
Would she like a beautiful scarf? I buy scarves for gifts quite a bit and they are always very well received, no matter the age of the recipient.
Get family members to put together "100 Reasons Why We Love You." They can be put together into a scrapbook with pictures of family members. A friend of mine had this done when her husband turned 80. It was his most precious possession and the thing he held the tightest to when he developed Alzheimer's.
I love the idea if O. of the books with space to fill in her answers to questions about her life and the years when she was growing up.
Basket of blooming pansies?
I like the idea of a photo of the exterior of her house. I wouldn't do the inside--she might find it depressing. You might ( if its in bad shape now) be able to use Photoshop and a cool effect to "soften" the appearance. Maybe sepia tone with a fuzzed oval border?
She might like lottery tickets.
Even old people need to replace basics like slippers, a robe, socks, tops, toiletries!
Ok, I am NOT a garden or plant person, so I'm sure this will be phrased badly, but could you somehow get to her old garden and cut some plants or stems, and sprout them? And then you could give them to family members. I once heard of someone who moved away from their home, and they took little bits of the ivy that they loved and did whatever you do to make them grow roots and grow again. Your great great aunt might love knowing that her precious plants are being loved and cared for still. And you could make one special plant for her. Take a photo of the original plant first.
I love the idea you have of taking pictures of and around the house she
lived in. Then frame them.
Also, since she likes to garden how about getting her a garden table (one
she can sit at & garden) to be put right outside the front door of her new
place. If a table is too big, how about some planter boxes, some bags of
garden soil & some pretty flowers for her to plant. She could do this at
the table inside then have the box brought out front.
Also, how about your time? Nice semi-long leisurely visits. Make her some tea. Get her to laugh.
Lastly, a nice, warm cozy blanket to wrap around her.
