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RE: Anniversary present for religious parents - 9/7/2008 9:21:30 AM
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ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
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So here's the update:
I had dinner with the folks last night. I brought up the issue of how they used to travel so much, but haven't for a long time. Mom's mom is from Italy, and my family has property in Italy and the UK. Wouldn't they like to see it again? How about all those Mediterranean ports they loved when they were younger? When were they getting back to traveling, and why were they taking so long?
So the old man says, I'd go tomorrow, but your mother doesn't want to. And Mom says, of course I want to travel. But who's going to walk the dog? (They have a live-in housekeeper and driver, and three other help who come in daily. Plus I live about two blocks away). So I say, well, someone could arrange this for you, and then you could travel without worrying about any of the details. And mom and dad say, well, that would be great, we'd love to see the Mediterranean again, it's been ten years.
So I just sprung the whole cruise thing on them and said, here, you're going, here are the ports of call, we're even buying you new luggage (Sis will pick it out, but I'm sure I'll end up paying, she's so cheap). Don't worry about the dog, Missy can walk him.
And you know what? I was expecting them to find a zillion reasons why they couldn't go, but instead, they said they loved the idea, and thanks! They would definitely love the cruise as an anniversary present. And Mom is going to talk to her doctor about something for anxiety in case she needs it.
So thanks everyone for all of your advice! You guys rule.
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RE: Anniversary present for religious parents - 9/7/2008 9:52:19 AM
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MC4JC
Posts: 201
Joined: 7/6/2008
From: Minnesota
Status: offline
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Glad it turned out well. I hope they have a wonderful cruise :) You are a good son :)
And remember the 2 rules in life (as you broke one worrying) :)
1. Don't sweat the small stuff.
2. Everything is small stuff.
Many times we worry about things that never happen :)
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RE: Anniversary present for religious parents - 9/7/2008 10:00:41 AM
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ekserekseez
Posts: 692
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Thanks, you're right about worrying! Although I have to admit, I really seldom worry about anything. This was an exception.
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RE: Anniversary present for religious parents - 9/7/2008 1:26:43 PM
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buckifn
Posts: 1781
Joined: 5/23/2006
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quote:
My parents' 40th wedding anniversary will be here in October, and I thought I'd be a good kid and get them something nice, to make up for the fact that I sometimes give them a lot of grief (not that they don't deserve at least some of it). They are really religious so I thought this would be a good place to ask for help.
I'd say keep your gift I don't want ANYTHING from you- if you said the above about me.
What on earth would make you say your parent's "DESERVE" grief? That is a horrible thought to have and is totally opposite of what Jesus teaches us about love and forgiveness.
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RE: Anniversary present for religious parents - 9/7/2008 1:33:49 PM
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ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
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Hey buckifn:
Chill out. I was joking, as you would see if you read the whole thread. You don't sometimes give your family and friends a little bit of a hard time, and vice versa?
Don't know too much about what Jesus teaches; I mostly slept through chapel. But I do know that everyone else on this thread understands how that most people have ups and downs with their families, and that it's often at least partially both ways.
My parents and I usually have a really good time together, regardless of how we may occasionally treat each other. Luckily for me, they're not as quick to judge, and as bad at interpreting people's meaning, as you seem to be by your response.
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RE: Anniversary present for religious parents - 9/7/2008 6:23:27 PM
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ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
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Follow up to buckifn's post:
This response so annoyed me, after a very nice, interesting, and polite thread, that I actually took it to my folks and asked what they thought about it. My mom's response was, what is wrong with this person? My dad's response was, must be a Democrat (he says that about anything that irritates him).
My parents then reminded me of times when THEY gave ME grief: like when they sent me to military academy for a year for something my sister did, without even asking for my side of the story; or like when I bailed them both out of jail (dad twice, actually).
So buckifn, I'll just say I'm glad that I got the parents I did, and not someone like you with no sense of reason, proportion, or humor.
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RE: Anniversary present for religious parents - 9/7/2008 11:27:07 PM
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Sadey
Posts: 531
Joined: 7/25/2007
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Dear wonderful son who gave his folks a cruise.
I'm so tickled that your folks thought it was great. Your last post made me laugh, I bet your folks never bore you do they?
Anyway I'm happy for you and for your folks.
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RE: Anniversary present for religious parents - 9/7/2008 11:44:34 PM
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buckifn
Posts: 1781
Joined: 5/23/2006
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Although political alliance has nothing to do with the topic of respecting one's parent's I will tell you this...I registered Democrat, but am becoming more convinced these past few weeks I'm voting McCain, although the jury is still out on that one.
About your humor as you called it...well having no knowledge about you at all isn't it reasonable to assume your words will very well sound one way to some and a totally opposite way to others?
In the world I work in I see kids who would give anything to have parent's who care for them so yes it really irks me when I see words that come across as unappreciative and disrespectful. You can't judge a person you don't know, but since words are all we have here your words are what I responded to, and imo they sounded like a person who really didn't want to honor their parent's.
Do I give my family member's a hard time? No, I lost my Mom before I was 20, my Dad before I was 4, my brother before he was 16, and my first wife suddenly during a routine hospital stay...so I am absolutely sure I take time every day to value those I have left.
If you type words here then surely you know the words are going to be interpreted in different ways by different people. I don't see that as a reason to be offended.
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RE: Anniversary present for religious parents - 9/8/2008 2:02:44 AM
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ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
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Well okay, buckifn! If that's an apology, then it's accepted. Not a big deal.
Like I said, if you read the entire thread, you could easily see that I get along quite well with my parents. The word "grief" apparently means "horrible tragedy" to you, while to me, and many others, it can mean somthing like "teasing" or "razzing," like how Linus on Peanuts says "Good grief" all the time.
I was irritated because your comment threw a damper on what, for me, had been a fun and pleasant conversation with new people of a type I just do not know in my everyday life. So let's shake on it and call it a misunderstanding.
And yes, to my dad, "Democrat" is the worst insult in the world. He thinks that Karl Rove is liberal.
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RE: Anniversary present for religious parents - 9/8/2008 2:04:59 AM
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ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
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Sadey:
You rule! I hope someone gives you a cruise some day, or whatever else you want to make you happy. It's people like you why I post on these forums.
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RE: Anniversary present for religious parents - 9/8/2008 9:44:46 AM
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Sadey
Posts: 531
Joined: 7/25/2007
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Thanks hon, your parents are blessed to have you .
I loved your description of your parents, because I'm in my 60s and I know I drive my kids crazy sometimes. Its my job 
Have fun watching your folks getting ready for this cruise, it will be a memory for you for the rest of your life.
God tells us to honor our parents and what a sweet way for you to honor them.
God bless you
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RE: Anniversary present for religious parents - 9/26/2008 11:11:53 AM
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ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
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An update: tomorrow (Saturday) night is the bon voyage party sending my parents off on their trip!
And since my mom said it cost too much and the money could go to better use, my (ex?)-brother-in-law and I are donating an equal amount of money to a charity of her choice. She picked a scholarship fund for a private school run by her church.
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