My neighbor is having her 100th birthday today. Our family wants to do something small for her. Im just not sure what we should do. They had an open house party for her last Saturday. We gave her a card then. So I really don't want to give her two of them. Yesterday was my daughter birthday and we were talking to her, she gave my daughter a card and then told us again that today is her birthday. She said I don't see why everyone is making such a big out of me turning 100. Hell after 80 who gives a $h!t. She lives by herself ( with her cat) but she doesn't get around very good. She has her chairs spaced out strategically around her house for the distance she can walk before sitting down. She doesn't like house plants, too much work ( more walking and trying to carry the water can). She loves to sit outside on her porch all day during the warm months. She no longer leaves her house ( 2yrs now) other than Dr appt. every 6 months. Her granddaughter cooks her dinner every night ( I have offered but she is very picky now what she eats and the grand daughter has said how much she loves doing it, its thier special time every day together). She use to have the most beautiful yard filled with every type of flowers you can imagine! But two years ago she had them all cut down as she couldn't care for them anymore and didn't want the lady who mows for her to have to care for them. We already shovel for her every winter. She doesn't like wind chimes.. they drive her cat nuts. She doesn't like lawn ornaments.. again something to move and get in the way while mowing. Im at a lost, but I don't want to not recognize it ( even though I did at the party) because she has said the same thing for the past 10 years I have known her about people making it a big deal.. but after her birthday she is so happy and always shows me her cards she has received.
Can you imagine being 100?! Oh her stories are so great, its funny to see this little frail lady tell stories about the gentlemen and drinking in the saloons with them and dancing. She tells a lot about the 20's-50's. Its so neat.
Thank you everyone! We went with a home made card from the kids and gave her a gift card that can be used anywhere. that way if she needs something or if the grand daughter wants to use it for food or what ever ( her daughter and granddaughter buy most of her food as her budget is so tight). Thank you so much, she was so happy and she shared all of the other cards and pictures she recieved in the cards. :)
Maybe she'd like a few CDs of 1920's / 1930's / 1940's music.
She might really enjoy hearing the songs from her youth again.
You can get the best of the Andrews Sisters and Glen Miller (and other big band music).
What an awesome family you have!
How about giving her a flower arrangement.
Updated
What an awesome family you have!
How about giving her a flower arrangement.
Hi R.-
How kind of you to think of your neighbor on her milestone birthday!
My grandma made it to almost 90! I used to give her pedi/mani s...and the stories SHE would tell...lol.
One thing she LOVED were crossword puzzles...I'd get her large print ones (with fat pencils) and I swear it helped to keep her sharp!
My gram also loved rug hooking...does your neighbor have a 'fav' craft?
Maybe a BIG scarf that she could wear around her shoulders as she sits on her porch and the weather gets cooler?
New cushions for her porch chair?
Cookies? Home made bread?
Wine? (My gram had a 'rye and soda' every evening til the day she died...lol)
Anyway you mark her day will be appreciated I am sure
Best luck!
Michele/cat
***ETA*****
You mentioned she gave your little one a birthday card...How about an assortment of 'cards' for all occasions? If she doesn't get out much...some assorted cards/stationery and stamps?? Just a thought....
Cat
I am not sure what to get her, I was thinking maybe a locket pendant or a gift card to a pet store for her cats. Or a big nice pot of plant for her patio that does not need a lot of watering... But make sure you take lots of pictures of her and even record her tell her stories!
When my grandmother turned 80 we bought her a digital thermometer. THe kind that tells the current weather,time, windspeed and forecast (although the forecast is not always right). I found one that had a larger screen and was easier to use and read. My dad installed it for her. Once they are installed all you have to do in put in batteries and the batteries seem to last forever. MY grandmother loves that thing. She loves to see the weather to decided what to wear, to see what she wants to do out that day. It gives her something to talk about. She's pretty spry, but still uses it all the time. Maybe something like that and install it for your neighbor? If she loves the outdoors, but doesn't get around well, it may come in useful to her.
I agree with making cookies or a cake. I know my Grandmother doesn't like to get "stuff" anymore (she's late 80s) because she feels its just more stuff to take care of or "get rid of" when she passes.
Or maybe get her some real nice choclates or some other "luxury" food.
But I think if you just made something nice and took it over and spend some time on the porch with her she'll really appreciate it. Ask her to tell you some more stories and just be with her.
My great aunt, who was like my grandma, died when she was 85. For one of her last birthdays, I got her one of those really soft microfiber throws. She LOVED it! She was always cold- even in the heat of the summer and she liked the throw vs. a blanket because it wasn't as heavy as a regular blanket (weight wise). She was so frail that it would actually hurt her bones to have a heavy blanket over her. She went on and on every time I talked to her on the phone about how much she loved that throw.
My grandma is turning 90 next summer and she lives in an assisted living building, so space is very limited. The things she likes most are a phone call and pictures of my boys. I have also sent her a sock gram that she liked and she loves black licorice, so we send her that for Christmas every year.
Does your neighbor have a favorite treat? What about an edible arrangement (you can get the small ones for under $50)....or maybe cookies or brownies delivered to her- I have used Fairytale Brownies and Harvard Sweet Boutique.
YOu made me miss my gramma. She turned 100 and we had a huge cake with 100 candles. My daughter actually took a picture of Gramma to school that year for 100's Day. She lived to 105 and played bridge with a group until about 103. Her birthday would be tomorrow and she would be 111.
What about cut flowers to put in a vase?
Something to munch on, a favorite candy.
a shawl
Just go over and sit with her on her porch
And Happy Birthday to your neighbor!! My gramma said the same thing, what's all the fuss??
100 is amazing! My great-aunt turns 105 this year. Can you imagine? 105 years old?!
How is her sight and hearing? If her sight is still good, maybe a gardening magazine subscription would be nice.
If she doesn't see or hear that well, maybe take a little cake or pie over and share it with her her. If she is like my great-aunt, she just enjoys visits and company more than anything. Ask her questions about her past and how things used to be. It's interesting to hear about the great depression and times that very few people are still alive to remember. My great-aunt loves this. And snuff! LOL She has dipped snuff for 85 years and still does to this day. :)
SHE gives a S$$T!!! How many people do you know that are 100? :) LOL!
If you have her Grand daughter's number, call her and ask what kind of sandwiches you can make to take over at lunch time and have lunch with her...maybe some cupcakes - not only for her day (again) but your daughters....kinda like a small party again...
Since she doesn't get out that often - why not buy her a set of boxed cards so she can send out cards for other people's special occasions? Have your daughter use some paint and give her a Hand bouquet card...or cut out her hand to make "flowers" for her...
I bet her stores are AWESOME!! My grandmother is 94 and some of the things she tells me? WOW!!!
GOOD LUCK!!!!
My wife's aunt turned 100 last January and her grand daughter and her younger sisters and families took her on a cruise to Mexico. We would have gone someplace else, but she doesn't sit well for long periods of time and taking her to the caribbean would have required her to be on a plane for hours.
What can you do for her? Write down her stories. Ask her openended questions about herself and her parents and grand parents. When she is gone, those stories will be lost. I'm so glad I talked my mom into writing her autobiography.
Good luck to you and yours.
hand painted card(finger paint is ideal, followed closely by crayons, skip the glitter) made by your kids
cookie bouquet
Grocery store gift card (almost everyone over 80 I know LOVES these, even the wealthy ones. It makes sense. If we're all up in arms about price changes in the past 10 years... what about 80 years ago when a nickel was worth $5-$10 worth of stuff today? That would be apx $400-$800 a gallon for gas.)
Can you ask the granddaughter if they contacted Willard Scott about his doing the 100th b-day things? (if he still does?)
Call the local radio station and have them mention it on air - if she listens to radio! (they do it here on a country station every day)
Would say have everybody send her a card seeing if you could reach 100 cards, but the gal's family might not like that info being out there!
Our Grandfather lived to be 103! What an awesome experience for all of us.
How about a few Mylar balloons for her front porch.
One thing grandfather could still taste and he considered a treat where those "melt away mints". Walgreens sells them. You could give them to her in a small container.
This is one of reasons the elderly do not eat as much and do not have an appetite their taste buds diminish..
Our grandfather also did not need a "thing". He loved visitors. He loved sharing stories. and HE loved the news.. He kept up with everything.. He embraced the changes..
We used to ask him. "When was the first time you saw a car?
When did you first ride a plane?. He said it was "the first time he ever saw one, it landed in their families field!!!"
We asked all sorts of questions because we knew it was always going to be amazing..
So time and interest are the best
Does she enjoy reading? May be find a book about the 20's for her?
A nice box of chocolates maybe good too? Or what about helping her go get her hair done? My gma LOVES going and getting her hair washed and rolled,
So sweet of ya!
I love the idea of CDs. Does she have a DVD player? Maybe a box set of oldies TV shows/movies (or even Walgreens or CVS carries old movies, that would probably be cheaper). Or a voice recorder where she can tell her funny stories, and it will be a family momento.
Happy Birthday to your neighbor....I certainly would celebrate her with balloons and cake and some nice pictures. Gift her a little something she can use or bake something she really enjoys! How nice of you to want to make a difference for her.
