A timeless classic appropriate for almost anyone, but especially women is "Gift from the Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. A more current popular read is "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. The move by the same name, which is based on the book, is set for relase in August.
Hi Louise,
Several ideas. Smart Women Don't Retire - They Break Free. Emily Dickenson is always a favorite because she is so relevant to us even today. Simple Abundance A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach Let me know if you need more ideas.
Two poems: "Miracles" by Walt Whitman; and "Ithaka" by Constatine Cavafy. Also, if she's interested in prayer and stories of what it has done for people's lives --- "The Path of Prayer" by Sophy Burnham.
One idea is to collect special memories and pictures from family and friends and make a memory book. One title that I like is 50 Things To Do When You Turn Fifty Book. Another title is 1961 Time Passages Yearbook. Another special book would be You're Only Old Once! A Book for Obsolete Children by Dr. Seuss. One poetry book that might be special is Boomer Girls: Poems by Women from the Baby Boom Generation.
I recommend the new memoir by Nora Ephron, I Feel Bad about my Neck. It is a quick read, and left me wanting more, and Ephron writes humorously but with deep feeling about growing older. I laughed out loud, but there are poignant stories about her younger self...at least what she can remember...and her life with her family. The one complaint is that it is too short, but that is perfect for a 50th birthday gift.
Chicken Soup for a Woman's Soul (over 50), a blank journal or one with nature inspired small pictures along with a great pen that writes smoothly, Louisa Edwards romance chic lit I'm All Steamy will make her smile. For advice how about a spa day with essential oils at home or away. And maybe to treat herself gently seeing as she's beginning a new half century.
Magazine subscription-- if you know what she is interested in, it's a great gift because it comes every week or month. It's an indulgence a lot of people don't buy for themselves.
Anything by Elizabeth Berg would be great. Her work is humorous, up to date and heart warming and always tells a story about women and how they navigate through life on their own terms. I have read all of her books and there isn't one that I would not love as a gift.
How about some literary selections that were published the year she was born. 1961? You could then inscribe something very personal noting the importance of her birth....
A couple of thoughts on this... the book Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach was one of my favorites. It is a daily missive on living fully. Lovely to read and a treat to start or end each day. Another offering would be to send her to the website tut.com where she can sign up to get daily messages from "The Universe" that will provoke her to think about her world from the perspective of what she brings to it. Very fun. And always, a hand written letter from you telling her why she's an important part of you life will be cherished forever.
I would love to recommend:
Sacred Voices: 'Essential Women's Wisdom Through the Ages' a beautiful anthology compiled by Mary Ford-Grabowsky
'Wise Women: A Celebration of Their Insights, Courage and Beauty' by photographer, Joyce Tenneson. The photographs are stunning portraits of "women of age" and their insights are profound, comical, sad and some don't make any sense at all (oddly, I love those best).
'She Walks in Beauty: A Woman's Journey Through Poems' selected and composed by Caroline Kennedy. It's just wonderful and I plan on giving this one as gifts this Christmas.
I have been making birthday cards for years, and nothing says it better than a special card for that special day. Include photos of people near & dear to that person and activities, places, hobbies that define him/her as an individual.
A verse personalized for your friend, balloons, and a cake make this a "keepsake" card.
I found a great gift is to give a vintage copy of Life magazine from the week your friend was born. So much fun to see what was going on in the world at that time. I order mine from oldlifemagazines.com
If she's a fun lady, anything by Erma Bombeck is terrific! For poetry, I couldn't recommend anyone else but Dorothy Parker! Anyone that writes this can't be bad!
Guns aren't lawful
Nooses give
Gas smells awful
You might as well live!
You could make this a fun day, I recently celebrated my best friends 60th birthday, i got together 5 of our closest friends, we went to her favorite mall and had lunch in her favorite restaurant, after that we told her, ok, the mall is yours, lets start the journey and go shopping, it took a few minutes to talk her into letting go of the guilt of her freinds paying for whatever she wanted. when we passed the guilt phase, we were off, starting on the top level of the mall, we knew after years of shopping with her the favorite stores she loves but coud not afford, so in we went into all of the stores she totally loved, boy we had so much fun, laughing, trying on clothes, after going into all of her faves, we ended up with a total of 7 new and exciting outfits, and of course one of our friends suggested we pick out a sexy nightime outfit for her hubby, even thought she is 60, she always works out and has a body of a 30 year old, we purchased a very very sexy outfit for her and her husband, we had a new haircut and facial, then we went home and actually wrapped all other gifts, when her hubby came home, his first response was, ok what have you girls been up too, we left the best for last and they opened their sexy present for last. She had a great 60th birthday, alot of photos, great friends, and we are sure a GREAT NIGHT!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDY,,,XXXOOOXXX
Hi Louise - I know this is sooooo self-serving, but... give her a copy of "Menopause in Manhattan" and a ruby ring (read it and you'll find out why), take her out for a Pomegranate Martini and tell her you'll be there for her ALWAYS!
...a book by the late Irish poet/author - John O'Donohue !! Fantastic ... and I was fortunate enough to meet him a couple of times over here in N. Ireland !
My new book: Women, Sex, Power, and Pleasure: Getting the Life (and sex) You Want is available for pre-order and will be out in hard-copy March 1st, 2013. It has great information that is delivered with lots of humor. I think your friend will like it and be happy to reeceive it.
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