It is not as if I was suggesting anyone over here was remotely 60 is it? Don't tell me it is about the John Bueller thing.

Ohhhhhhhhh I don't even know what the John Bueller thing is! I thought on this question, but was at a loss for an answer, and didn't want to just hear myself blabber. Yes, of course, 60 is one of those major landmarks. I hit it a year ago. It's one of those b'days where you are young enough you want to be taken seriously, but you are much more discriminating about what you want in the way of 'things', since many of us by that age have things we already need, and that just leaves things we want. Most of all, I just wanted to connect with my loved ones.

The bestest gifts of all are those given by people who really 'know' you. They don't have to be expensive, just thoughtful. There isn't a generic sixty year old b'day gift. If anyone asks me what I want for my b'day..........I tell them. I'm past false modesty and don't want people to waste their money. I like those gifts what show me the giver really knows how my clock ticks. A well chosen book, something for one of my passions (translate hobbies), flowers are always welcome. A pot of daisies even. A gift card to a fabric store or kitchen store. A handmade piece of art wrought with the idea it is going to me! Pottery, unusual pottery. A little antique to sit on my shelves. A ticket to performance. A new tool.

A donation to her favorite charity? Some people (coughmymothercough) seem to think this is rather impersonal. I, on the other hand, feel it's a good and thoughtful choice. Folks of a "certain" age have all the trinkets they need -- or they can afford to buy their own if they want more. A donation is a thoughtful way to honor the birthday gift-ee and the cause that is dear to her.

OK, so you could also throw in a bouquet of fresh flowers. :o)

Karen

I agree with the 'thoughtful.'
It's obvious you're attemping that by asking for suggestions.

Not that 60 is 'that old' (LOL--getting closer as I type), something 'lasting' would be thoughtful.
A monetary donation to a charity; something of her interest - i.e. garden statue to local public garden with a plaque in her honor, a bench in a local public park with a plaque in her honor, a tree planted in a national forest or local park...you get the idea.

Good luck with your gift and please keep us updated on your decision.

Your time can be one of the most valuable gifts you can give to anyone. Is there something she might want done, but can not do, if so you could offer to do it for her. 60 is not old, but as many of us know, as we approach that age, we do slow down some and certain tasks become harder to do. If there are no tasks to be done then how about a day of something else she likes to do, like pampering, shopping, movies, exploring musems, gardens and so on.

gift certificate for a manicure or pedicure,or massage,jewelry( maybe hand crafted), if you know her interests possibly a magazine subsciption,dinner out and maybe a movie ( is she married?) she isn't over the hill and most of the 60 year olds I know like the same thing as 40 year olds. When I hit 60 my son took me to an AC/DC concert. There are all kinds of "60" year olds obviously some a whole lot older than others. What kind of 60 year old is she?

It's rather like any other birthday, a successful gift is one that shows knowledge of the recipient.

As one who would prefer a certificate to a bookstore (any bookstore) and has so informed family, I think sometimes the unexpected can make a great gift:

A little lemon tree already in pot and looking for love. The Meyer dwarf is the best known, and extremely tolerant of homes that might be difficult for other plants. I lived with one for several years -- and here it is forty years later and I still remember it and the giver. (Only several years because it didn't survive being beside a storm-broken window during a blizzard.)

I have until Sunday to get this right so thanks for your suggestions, I guess I don't know her that well or how her clock ticks, as nothing jumps off the page, would a tree work if I planted it? I love Katsura, but that would be my favourite and maybe not hers so perhaps not.

That would be a wonderful thing to do. You could always make up a little card to put in her birthday card saying that she gets to pick the kind of tree and you will plant it for her but still suggesting a katsura. I didn't know what a katsura was and just Googled it. It's beautiful. Does it really smell like caramels or cotton candy when the leaves fall>

{{gwi:189747}}

I don't know of too many people who wouldn't love having a special gift of a tree. Not people I know, anyway....says the tree hugging woman. As it grows and gets more beautiful each year, one just has to keep enjoying it and appreciated it. Katsura is a nice choice. One of those trees one does not see that often here and may not choose for themselves, but when they get one, love it. See......you figured it out all by yourself!

Now, who the hay is John Bueller?

That's the one mwoods. I couple of weeks go I trimmed a few branches off one and had the branches in the back of the truck.They became sun dried and people would say "What is the smell, is it strawberries, chocolate." It took me a while to figure it out but yes it was the Katsura. The leaves turn a beautiful colour in the fall too.

I will let sleeping dogs lie calliope.

Naturally I couldn't think of a thing by Sunday, and now that it's Tuesday, I have thought of what I would have liked....something I wouldn't dream of buying "just for me."

A fancy bottle of champagne, already chilled and ready to pop the cork. I'd love to share it with the giver, no matter who it was! Maybe along with some special crackers and cheese???

For an older friend of mine, I buy tickets to a musical ( Rents, Chicago, Singing in the rain, etc.) and take her to dinner.

She gets out, has dinner and all of my undivided attention.

Another friend gets to go to a sports event and dinner.