Father's Day
I'm trying to find something nice to send my father for Father's Day - he's not really into "Hallmark" holidays, but I like to at least acknowledge it, because I love him and it's an opportunity to remind him that he's loved.
But it's very hard to find anything - cards or presents - that suit him. He doesn't wear ties (he's retired from teaching international politics for 37 years at Smith College), he's never played golf, he only watches sports when he's with my husband, and then only college football. He's a gourmet chef in the kitchen, and when he goes out to grill it's generally to do something else gourmet (marinated flank steak, butterflied chicken basted with something tasty). I'm pretty sure he's never "barbecued" in his life. So far all of the Father's Day cards and gifts that I've found are about golf, other sports, or barbecue.
So, I'm soliciting ideas. Here's a little info about my dad:
* He's turning 79 in July
* He's traveled the world and continues to do with my step-mother (he's more mobile and in better shape than I am)
* He reads, mostly historical biographies and political books (and in case you're wondering, he's thoroughly depressed and disgusted by our current adminstration)
* He loves to cook, loves gourmet food and wine
* He loves jazz and opera
* He writes books
* He lives in Western Massachusetts
I'm thinking possibly the DVD set of the first season of Slings and Arrows - his uncle Lawrence Langner was a big Broadway producer in the 1920's, and we have a family history of theatre. He loves British comedy (his mother was British, and he was born in Milan and raised in Belgium and England) and Canadian comedy has a lot of the same edge.
Any other thoughts?
EDIT: Thanks for all the great suggestions!! And yes - I thought my father deserved a good review on Amazon.com. The rest of you should read the book and post your own reviews :-)
.
But it's very hard to find anything - cards or presents - that suit him. He doesn't wear ties (he's retired from teaching international politics for 37 years at Smith College), he's never played golf, he only watches sports when he's with my husband, and then only college football. He's a gourmet chef in the kitchen, and when he goes out to grill it's generally to do something else gourmet (marinated flank steak, butterflied chicken basted with something tasty). I'm pretty sure he's never "barbecued" in his life. So far all of the Father's Day cards and gifts that I've found are about golf, other sports, or barbecue.
So, I'm soliciting ideas. Here's a little info about my dad:
* He's turning 79 in July
* He's traveled the world and continues to do with my step-mother (he's more mobile and in better shape than I am)
* He reads, mostly historical biographies and political books (and in case you're wondering, he's thoroughly depressed and disgusted by our current adminstration)
* He loves to cook, loves gourmet food and wine
* He loves jazz and opera
* He writes books
* He lives in Western Massachusetts
I'm thinking possibly the DVD set of the first season of Slings and Arrows - his uncle Lawrence Langner was a big Broadway producer in the 1920's, and we have a family history of theatre. He loves British comedy (his mother was British, and he was born in Milan and raised in Belgium and England) and Canadian comedy has a lot of the same edge.
Any other thoughts?
EDIT: Thanks for all the great suggestions!! And yes - I thought my father deserved a good review on Amazon.com. The rest of you should read the book and post your own reviews :-)
.