Around the Bluhmin’ Town

By

Judy Bluhm

Another year. And another year older. It is my granddaughter Bella’s birthday this week. She is thrilled to be nine years old. My girlfriend’s birthday is Friday. She has little enthusiasm for being a year older, but Bella has enough excitement for all of us. At Christmas, I gave her a furry little purse. She thanked me, then asked if I knew she was having a birthday. I laughed, “of course.” Bella went on to explain that her birthday is going to be one of the “most fantastic days of my life” and that turning nine “will be the best year ever.”

So, what makes a year “the best ever?” Bella says “I will learn a lot of new things, there will be sleep-overs, vacations, parties, swimming, fun and cookies. When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday, she squealed, “anything with a unicorn on it!” Then did a cartwheel.

Aww, the exuberance of youth. Kids love birthdays! My friend won’t be doing cartwheels (but I asked her to try one). Aging can be rough. Years start adding up faster than we like and then we are shocked at how time flew by. From now on, I will try to look at future birthdays through the eyes of Bella. Another year holds the promise of “learning lots of new things” and might include a cookie or two.

Buying birthday presents for kids is pretty easy. And relatively inexpensive. Simple toys, dolls, trucks, or a furry little purse can make a child smile. For adults, especially parents and grandparents, giving and receiving meaningful gifts is a lot harder.

One man in his late sixties claimed his kids have given him so many bottles of Old Spice over the years that the boxed (and unopened bottles) line his closet like dead soldiers. He said that if he ever took them all to the Dump and poured out the cologne, it would cause the entire county to wreak of Old Spice. The only thing he likes is the cheeky claim on every box that says, “If your grandfather hadn’t worn Old Spice, you wouldn’t exist.” Haha, might be true but the point is that we need to get a bit more creative when it comes to gift giving for “older folks.”

One of my colleagues claims he bought his seventy- year- old mother the perfect gift for her birthday last week. What might a “perfect” gift be for a lady of a certain age? A bottle of Jack Daniels and fifty bucks in quarters so she could play the slots at her favorite casino. Guess this gives new meaning to “live your best life.” I have a friend who is in her mid-seventies and receives items like slippers as gifts, and while she is appreciative, she says she doesn’t want to be defined by “old lady items.” It appears that gift giving can be complicated!

Birthdays. A New Year. A year older. Not necessarily wiser. But with the right cologne, a bottle of Jack Daniels, a cartwheel and a unicorn, the possibilities are endless.

Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local realtor. Contact Judy at [email protected] or visit www.aroundthebluhmintown.com.