Father's Day- Making it Memorable
Decide on What is Appropriate
My father has pretty much everything he could want in his life. At his age, he and my mother constantly remind me that they don't need anymore stuff that takes up room. They really mean it, too as they are constantly donating things to the charity shop of their church.
I decided that I was going to make a gift of memories for my father. I sat down and thought about all of the things my father has done for me. I wrote them all down.
I then removed all of the references to events that could have been an embarrassment for him, because no one likes being embarrassed. When I was done, I had a list of ten items that were culled from many memories.
Decide on a Project
I now had ten memories, but what could I do with them? You can't press memories into a box and call it a day. I had to find a way to express how important my father is to me without it being too girly, or take up too much room.
I decided to make a card. There are many different software companies that specialize in greeting cards and scrapbook sites, I chose a scrapbook site so that it would give me a lot more freedom in what I was wanting to create.
Going through albums, I selected ten photos for my project and I scanned them so that the originals would still be available for all of us to enjoy.
Once I had my template, with 5 pages, I wrote short versions of my memories, and I placed a photo in the story.
After everything was said and done, I stapled the center to make pages, which, front and back totaled ten pages.
Deliver the Goods
I mailed my fathers' small book to him way ahead of time since he and my mother are going to be out of town. I waited about a week and then I called to make sure that he got the small package.
He had gotten it, and he enjoyed going over the book with me. Both he and my mother thanked me for not adding to needless stuff, saying that they both treasured the book I made. Apparently at dinner that evening, my book was passed around, where it gave my father a chance to brag without being boastful.
That book now sits on his battered coffee table next to his favorite novels. When guests come over, he finds a way to remember an anecdote. Then he pulls out the brag book and shares the photo. Each time he sees that book it is like being told "I love you" between he and I.
Appropriate Not Just for Fathers
Since I did the original book for my dad, I have done these small memory books for other male members of my family, they really do seem to like them. I have even been asked to make them for male members of a wedding party!
I always try and include photos of cars that they may have owned or other activities that they may have enjoyed. It makes the book more relevant to them.
In sending this type of book to grandparents, I sign and date the book, and include some additional recent photos of myself and my family.
The total cost of this gift is really only the software and your time.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2012 Dixie