Grandma's Favorite Gifts: One Woman's Advice on Shopping for Elders

After living in the same home for forty years, I was packing for a move to my first condo. I ended up sitting on the floor going through old pictures of my children and school pictures of their children. I thought to myself, "How much easier it would have been if there were group pictures of the family instead of 15 years of school pictures." Previously, It was no problem to arrange the grandchildren's pictures because wall space was plentiful and I could update them periodically. Now, I had to pick and chose my favorites and pack up extras to give back to their parents.

I thought to myself, "Why not write a Grandma's Favorite Presents column for our local newspaper? " Read it for me and tell me if I missed anything of importance that I should include.

Keepsakes and chotskys were hobbies for early and mid-marriage days but I have since given them to family members who are delighted at the prospect of starting a collection of their own. Now I visit their homes and am delighted to see Disney characters, Precious Moments, Hummels, and every variety of animal life you can imagine. My mother advised me long ago when she said,

"Peggy, Tis far better for you to see your family enjoy them while you're alive rather than giving gifts after you are dead."

Everyone likes to eat, so gift baskets from local Italian deli's are wonderful. They fit all items in beautiful baskets, pastas of every shape and size, sauces like marinara, mushroom, with meat or meatless, jars of artichokes, olives and oh, the cheeses, pungent, sharp or mild. I have seen such baskets and they range from $75.00 to $200.00. By the time they wrap the basket in colored cellaphane and added a huge ribbon, you have food for the month and you don't have to step out your doorstep.

Gourmet foods,candies, fruit and wines are popular and if you do not have a good nose, you will find connoisseurs who will gladly give you tips on your purchase. Given a choice between store-bought or homemade, homemade wins , hands down. Be it a hot dinners, cake or cookies,cornbread, even gourmet sugarless candy.