A suggestion for a nice Christmas gift for that person who already has everything.

[dameatball]

I notice a lot of posts on DU related to the passing of beloved pets. I lost my almost 18 year old Beagle/Bassett mix in March of this year.
Meanwhile I was trying to figure out what to get my 98 year old neighbor. She has a large extended family that pampers her and she wants for nothing. Her small house is already overcrowded with nic nacs and such. So trying to figure out what to get her was perplexing. My dog, Buddy, used to love to go lay by her rocking chair on the porch and she would scratch his ears and pet him. It was one of the highlights of both their days. She seldom comes outside in cold weather, but beginning in the spring he would beeline to her rocking chair when on his walks.

I hope it is not against DU rules to advocate for any specifiuc charity. If so, please delete this post. But what I ended up doing was using PayPal to make a donation to the ASPCA in memory of my Buddy and designate the Christmas card to go to my neighbor and the donation appear in her name. She will not have to pay anything or whatever. I hope it was the right thing to do. It brought tears to my eyes so I suspect maybe it was.


This is just a suggestion that I thought I would pass along to anyone trying to figure out what to get the person who has everything. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a wonderful 2019 to all.

[Brainstormy]

1. I think that was a lovely idea. n/t

[lamp_shade]

2. What a wonderful idea. How very thoughtful of you. I'll remember this.

You're an

[NJCher]

3. thanks for the good idea

I know several animal-lovers in this situation who don't need or want a thing for Christmas. This is my new go-to idea for those people.

That was a very sweet story about how you and Buddy visited your neighbor. That's the best in life: moments like these.

[dameatball]

13. It is easy to do also. Ten minutes tops.

[BigmanPigman]

4. Fantastic idea!

My little dog died 16 years ago today. My current baby is 15 1/2 and when she wakes up from her nap we are going to the park to the spot where I scattered the ashes. I do this every year. I read the letters and journals from that sad time and bring a dog cookie. I will not get another dog since I don't have much longer to live...but the silver lining is that I will live long enough to take care of my baby until she dies. That is very comforting to me. I think that I will ask those who want to do something after I die to donate to the Humane Society or ASPCA. I am leaving over 50% of my assets to the Humane Society and the local shelter I was a foster parent with. Your neighbor is lucky to have you, and so was Buddy.

[dameatball]

5. Same here. I have a nine year old rescue dog and a nine year old rescue barn cat.

I would consider taking in another, but I don't want them wondering where I went some day. You are a good person.

[BigmanPigman]

6. Did you see that poor dog in China (I think it was China)

who sat on the street every day waiting for her parent to come home after he died. I know that if that happened to my dog it would probably be very bad for her overall health since she is very attached to me.

[demigoddess]

7. I had a cat who played a game with my severely handicapped daughter. And the first

night we had him he went into her room and cuddled her back which was painful because of her scoliosis. Later years he 'protected' me from big dogs. He would come when you whistled and we loved him.

[fleur-de-lisa]

11. How sweet!

[StarryNite]

8. It's a beautiful, heartfelt gift suggestion.

Thank you.

[dameatball]

10. Thank you. The $ amount doesn't matter.

there are also local shelters that accept simple things, blankets, pillows, etc. No one has to be rich to help.

[stuffmatters]

9. You made such a sweet and loving gift. Thanks for the "heartwarmer" today.

[JI7]

12. these are always good ideas and many people words prefer it to getting things

that they will not use and just takes up space.

[dameatball]

14. Absolutely. Better to do something that helps.

[Rorey]

15. That's the kind of gift I would accept

I told my family years ago to PLEASE not get me gifts. Of course I'm always happy to get family portraits and such, but I don't want things that just sit around that I have to dust. I've got everything I want, and if something new comes along that I'd like to have, I generally just get it for myself. Doesn't happen often. My wants are few.

Donating to a charity, or simply doing something kind for another person because they know I would want them to do that, is a wonderful gift that anyone who wants to give me a gift could do. I love your idea.

[llmart]

16. I do this for my two grown children who have everything they need and then some.

They are both dog lovers and I always donate to our state Humane Society in their names. Then I purchase one of their calendars and wrap it up to have something to give them. They are always grateful. Last year my son gave me a substantial gift where I could go online and choose which charity/charities I wanted to donate to. Of course I chose some of the money to go to an animal rights organization.

I lost my almost 16 year old rescue this year, so it will be doubly important for me to mark her passing with donations.

[dameatball]

18. I was not aware of the calendars. Thank you.

[Mr.Bill]

17. That would easily be my favorite gift

if someone gave it to me.