My dad is going to be 70 on Sunday.  I remember his 40th birthday party.  I remember thinking, “man he is old.”  Now that I’m in my 40’s and he is turning 70 instead of thinking, “he’s old” I’m thinking,  “I hope he has at least 20 more years with us!”  He is living the dream life.  He has a dog that is definitely his best pal.  He has 40+ acres of land to wonder.  He has the best man cave in town.  He has friends that love him.  He has the best daughter in the world and the perfect son-in-law.  As well as six grand-kids that think he hung the moon!  He has almost all you could ask for.  So what do you buy a guy like this for his birthday?

My ever so insightful teenage daughter suggested cigarettes.  Truth be told he does use a lot of them and will be using more.  However, we are not getting him cigarettes.  I searched the store and thought about new bathroom towels, a new flannel shirt, maybe even a food saver vacuum sealer.  It is tough making meals for just one or two people.  He has often cut frozen pizzas in half before cooking them to make a single serving.  My middle daughter said we should get him a slide because the one that used to be attached to his deck broke.  He is a funny guy but I don’t think this would really be a gift for him.  I came across a neat picture holder made of old weathered pallets and thought he would like some new pictures of the kids.  My boys are capable of making a picture holder out of the million pallets they have in their fort.  No one else was too excited about this idea though so I don’t see it happening.  I had a great suggestion from a friend.  A device that would warm his feet inside his boots.  He could control it with his phone.  He used to be into technology when I was growing up.  He was the one who hooked up the VCR when we would rent it from the video store.  He bought our Atari and later on our Sega game systems.  The thing is it all got so complected and he really just enjoys the simple things.  Actually he might really like some warm socks but that doesn’t feel like the perfect gift.  Socks just don’t seem to say how much we love him.

Maybe I’m thinking too much about the perfect gift.  The truth is there is not a perfect gift.  He is the perfect dad and I just want him to know that.  He enjoys people and he enjoys his family.  I will be getting him a card and having everyone write a little message of love and birthday wishes.  We will go be with him on his special day and that time spent together along with words of love will be the perfect gift!