Friends are uniquely special people in our lives. As a wearer of many hats, no-one else could ever quite fill the shoes of our best pal. He or she is often the one who sees us through the darkest hours of our life and accepts us as we are - laughing with us at our own foibles. One of the bleakest days of my life was when I was notified of the sudden and unexpected death of my dearest friend, Andrew. In honor of all of the Andrews in the world, here are some gift ideas to say, “Thank you, my friend”.
MALE FRIENDS
Let’s face it, buying gifts for men can be frustrating – especially when it’s a friendship gift. There are certain things that you can buy for the men in your family that would be completely inappropriate for a male friend. The best place to start is by looking at his hobbies or particular interests. If your special pal looks forward to a good day trip every now and then, contact your local travel agent for information regarding friendship packages. These are trips that are designed specifically for friends, which often include local tours of highlights, riverboat rides and walking tours through the country. Perhaps the most significant benefit of this type of “thank you” is the opportunity to build new memories as a result of the gift itself.
Consider putting together a memory bag for your male friend. Using a leather bag (or any fabric bag of masculine design), place pictures and mementos of times that you’ve shared and places that you’ve visited together over the years. You can either place the items directly into the bag or purchase small boxes – one for each item – and fill the bag with them. This will be a great keepsake, and will also be the catalyst for a long walk down memory lane.
Here’s a great gift suggestion for ladies whose best friend is a member of the opposite sex. Contrary to popular belief, friendship rings are not just for women. There’s a wide variety of such rings for men, and this would be an ideal gift as an expression of your feelings for that male pal. Since these rings can be purchased in matching sets, buy one for him and another for yourself. You’ll always be reminded of that special friend whenever you catch a glimpse of it on your finger – and the same will be true for him. These can be personalized with a message on the inner band - if you’d like to convey particular sentiments - or given as is. Either way, these matching rings will be a symbol of the unique bond that the two of you share.
If your friend owns his own home, or a piece of land that can be used for planting, give him the gift of a cherry tree. Since 1912, when the planting of cherry trees in Washington was given as an expression of friendship from the people of Japan to the citizens of the U.S., this beautiful jewel of nature has been the very icon of friendship. After purchasing one of these from your local nursery, present this lovely gift to your best pal and arrange to plant it together. This will serve as a magnificent expression of your relationship and will continue to flourish for many years.
FEMALE FRIENDS
It’s a rare woman who doesn’t appreciate the gift of jewelry. Friendship bracelets are beautiful expressions of your feelings for that unique someone and can be personalized with an inscription or the birthstones of both parties. With numerous styles to choose from, you can pick one that most closely captures the relationship that you share – and size is never a problem! Whether she’s a fan of sterling silver, pewter or any other of a number of metals, you’ll have a great many options from which to choose.
Receiving a gift basket is akin to finding lots of pretty packages under the tree on Christmas morning. You can construct your own specialized basket using items that represent her favorite hobbies or interests. If she’s an avid reader, use books, designer bookmarks and her favorites treats that she can enjoy while reading. You may also consider slipping in her favorite flavor of tea bags or gourmet coffees, complete with a cup that illustrates the reading theme.
Give her a day of pampering at a local spa. Gift certificates can be purchased ranging from a single service up to and including a full day of luxuriant revitalization. Remember, she’s been there for you during your toughest hours – what could be better than rewarding her with the ideal “day off”? If you’re a gal and you’d like to devote the day to being with your best girlfriend, buy a day at the spa for each of you!
Create a friendship collage or shadowbox which includes photos, admission tickets and other mementos of the fun times that you’ve had together. These can be as large or small as you’d like, depending upon the amount of treasures that you possess. The framing may also provide a reflection of the friendship theme – or of the gift recipient. For instance, if she’s a patron of the arts with a particular fondness for ballet, select a frame that expresses a ballet theme.
Whether you share an extraordinary friendship with a man or woman, there are many ways in which to say “thank you”. Some of the best ones involve a gift that allows the active participation of both parties, but gifts of a different genre can certainly be as poignant – and sometimes more so.
