Mark42
Fleet Admiral
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2003
- Messages
- 9,334
I want to do something for my parents that they will really enjoy. I am at a loss of what to do. I know that I can do some yard work, fix a few things around the house. But that is NOT the sort of "do something" that I want to do. They can pay someone for that, and they do. Let me describe my parents:<br /><br />Dad is fairly good at mechanical stuff. He knows a lot about strengths, how to determine structures, basic tools, etc. I got my education in "do it yourself" from Dad. I helped him lay paver blocks in the 70's before they were popular because he knew their strength. Taught me how to frame a wall and hang a door. He always paid high attention to the overall design. He helped me build my first go kart from wood, then my first mini-bike from a kit. (Mom was pissed) He taught me magneto ignition, basic fuel, air ,spark technology of motors. He worked for ***** oil company for most of his career. Top dog in the oil technology biz, he is a chemical and mechanical engineer. He extended his retirement just to head up special refinery overhaul projects. Always stressed that the equipment need to be cleaned more often than it was to keep up the quality of the "cracked" product. In the mid 70's Dad said " a bunch of young engineers spend lots of time in the room with new computers (PC's)." (my Dad still knows and has many slide rules) I was messing around with Atari and told him to go in there and learn what they are learning (there was no official training back then). He did, and the old dog learned new tricks. Next thing you knew he was dragging home big suitcase size machines to work on. Cool stuff back then. <br /><br />Mom to did a lot of projects in her time. She taught me how to sew up the seat covers on my motorcycles (that she hated) and how to make curtains, how to frame a picture, how to use water color paints and oil paints. The difference in light on a Fir tree near and far. Color coordination. How to dress. She shopped in consignment shops. The old "depression era" that her parents lived through rubbed off on her. She bought many of my cloths (especially the suits and dress shirts) at consignment shops or church basement sales. I hated that. Trying on some other kids cloths
.. She pointed out who was a good friend and who wasn't by their actions, AFTER the fact. She knew when you were in trouble with just a look. When I was a smart mouth I got it hard. She once hit me in the face with a full pitcher of orange juice because I used the "f" word on her. She knocked me right over and down the basement staircase, orange juice flying all over the walls, steps, etc. Not bad for a 120lbs Mom. I learned my lesson. <br /><br />Mom and Dad have enriched my life 10 fold. They are getting old. Still in good health (74 and 75), they are driving over for Christmas day. I still don't know what to do for a Christmas present. <br /><br />They do adore the kids. But I think they are not up to the "send the kids over for a week" that MY grandparents did with me and my siblings. That's because my Grandparents were much younger than my kids Grandparents are. And that is the drawback to waiting until you are 41 years old to start making kids.<br /><br />I told them to come over at noon so they can have 2 hours with the kids before anyone else comes over and it becomes a Zoo here. <br /><br />So
. What do I do? <br /><br />Maybe I'll just print this and give it to them. Right?