BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations

Subject: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: KT
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 01:35 AM

I usually try to keep with the music here, but since this is such a creative bunch, I thought I'd ask this one. I'm helping to plan a birthday celebration for an 85 year old and need some ideas. Anyone have any great ideas or stories to share about what has made for a meaningful celebration for an octogenarian?

Subject: RE: BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: Quincy
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 05:08 AM

KT...what is the person's background i.e. birthplace, interests or occupation? If we know a lttle bit of history then it could help with ideas.

best wishes, Yvonne

Subject: RE: BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: KT
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 12:01 PM

Hi Quincy! Thanks for asking. I guess I was thinking in general terms. For instance, a person of this age would have lived through, and thus, probably loves, the music of the forties. I was thinking of hiring a group to do some of that music for the celebration. Any other musical and non musical ideas for special gifts or ways to celebrate 80 plus years would be most welcome and appreciated.

Thanks! KT

Subject: RE: BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 12:17 PM

For my Dad's 80th, someone gave him a birthday card made at the card shop which featured lists of all the most important and popular events and people of the day in 1913. Hallmark may offer it. It came in a folder with the front page of a newspaper too. He loved looking and remembering.
I dug out his old report cards from the 3rd and 4th grade. Hilarious - Dad actually got F- in deportment. C- was his highest grade. The grandchildren loved that. It prompted him to tell stories of Miss Meany who swatted him across the back of the head regularly and another teacher who actually tried to adopt him away from my grandmother.

Subject: RE: BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: Jolly
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 01:13 PM

It could be nice if everybody who attends brings a photograph and/or shares a meaningful memory of what that person has meant to them. Just a thought.

Kim

Subject: RE: BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 01:25 PM

We gave our 80 year old mother one helluva party this summer. We put up an enormous open sided tent as an offering to the weather gods (which worked!). We organised Mass to be said in the impromtu church to thank Him upstairs for her life, then after some gorgeous grub, my brother gave a super speech with the anecdotes of my mother that he had collected from the family beforehand. This brought the house down. Then the family scratch band played 'Happy Birthday', featuring children and grandchildren playing, which then turned into a super session that lasted the long afternoon.

There was real magic in the air that day, a tangible feeling of love for one person held by all assembled, family and friends, interwoven with music played as a carefully chosen gift. The accolade was the talent showed by the generations she propagated.

Hope your day is as memorable, KT

Skipjack

Subject: RE: BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: MMario
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 01:31 PM

Just because they lived through the forties doesn't mean they loved the forties music. - In fact, for some people of that age, the music of the forties is the LAST thing they want to hear. I'd check with someone who knows their musical taste regarding what kind of band to hire.

Subject: RE: BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 01:47 PM

I recently saw on our local news, "THE UKELELLE KING" who plays his ukelelle (very well) for seniors in retirement homes. They were dancing and singing and having a wonderful time. May I also suggest having young people at the party who are interested in performing ....that's always rewarding! The older generation find great satisfaction in knowing that because of them ... the "Beat Goes On"! I wish I was closer to you ...I lend you my collection of 78's and my Victrolla! Cheers, LL

Subject: RE: BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)
Date: 20 Sep 00 - 12:01 AM

Any body who's been around that long has surely made some sort of mark on you. A joke you repeat (Company permitting. That time you were doing your history homework and he shared a little bit of info that *didn't* come out of a book. (That's not the way it happened, I should know...) A story he's told that you repeated. Perhaps a story he's told so often that you've all made it your own and you could each share your version.

Just a few thoughts,
Rich

Subject: RE: BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: KT
Date: 20 Sep 00 - 02:17 AM

Lovely ideas, everyone. Thanks so much for sharing them. Sounds like there are some dearly loved octogenarians out there!

Subject: RE: BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Sep 00 - 05:41 AM

KT, the year before my mom died at two months shy of 83, she read "Tuesdays with Morty." She told me what a neat idea she thought it was to have everyone's friends and relatives say to the living elder person what they usually would wait to say at their funeral, as in the book. She just thought it was such a lovely idea for them to hear *beforehand* what folks cherished and remembered.

Without being morbid about it, I wished we'd had the time and all of the people close enough to have done that for her.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: Quincy
Date: 20 Sep 00 - 05:50 AM

KT,
A friend of mines mother went to the Silverstone racing track on her 80th and she was driven at high speed in a racing car!!!
She was asked if there was anything she really 'wanted' to do and she wanted the racing car ride or a hot air trip......she loved it!!

In the evening they did the good old 'This is your Life' red book with all the people and memories for her.

Have a lovely time......whatever you choose to do,
best wishes, Yvonne

Subject: RE: BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: Patrish(inactive)
Date: 20 Sep 00 - 06:38 AM

KT, whatever you decide to do make sure you have a good record of it, plenty of pictures, video and sound. Its great to have something like that to look back on. I hope it all goes well and you have a smashing time
Patrish

Subject: RE: BS: Non music-Birthday celebrations
From: KT
Date: 20 Sep 00 - 11:22 AM

Yvonne, race car driving??!! Wow! I don't think I'd want to do that NOW, but I hope when I'm 80, I'll have a little of that same go for it attitude!

Patrish, thanks for the suggestion. Nothing like saying "Oh, we should have brought the camera!" or "Oops! Forgot to charge the batteries!"

kat, I agree with your mom. I've often thought that a wake should happen while the person is living. Most have no idea that they will be remembered with such fondness. Isn't that what birthday celebrations should be about? Really celebrating the person's life and "gifting" them with the words that let them know what they mean to us. The other day I was singing at a local restaurant and there was a middle aged couple and an older woman there. On a break I went over to greet them and when they asked me to guess how old the older woman was, I said, "70...72..." She proudly reported that she was 92 years old, and then, seeing the surprised look on my face, asked if I wanted to know how to live that long. I said yes, I did, to which she replied, "Keep breathing!"

Have a great day, all! KT