My 2 Cents: Who Needs Father’s Day?

In a recent post , Dennis Mansfield suggests that Mother’s/Father’s Day is some sort of grand conspiracy by the Hallmark card company to sell product and make kids and the nonparticipatory spouse feel guilty. And he loves Christmas and birthdays. I, on the other hand, view gift-giving days with fear, especially since the kids have left the nest and are no longer around to provide ideas for gifts to give my wife. I view gift-giving days (Christmas, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, Mother’s Day) with fear and loathing. I don’t mind spending the money. I simply don’t like buying the wrong thing. I did once. Big time. In Lewiston. And I still hear about it occasionally. Yeah, it was that bad — and no I’m not going to tell you what it was. For a brief period, I conned Mrs. O into providing a list of gifts she’d like for Christmas. I was delighted. But she put an end to that by saying she preferred that I pick out something. More below .

That’s why I like Father’s Day. It’s the one gift-giving observance where I catch a break and don’t have to worry about buying the wrong thing for someone I truly love. I’m OK if all I get is a call from the kids and a “Happy Father’s Day” from Mrs. O. This year, however, the calendar betrayed me. Father’s Day fell on my 34th wedding anniversary. But I was ready for the betrayal — thanks to our mutual love for live theater. In 2008, “Phantom of the Opera” was just the ticket for an anniversary gift. In 2009, tickets to “Lion King” was the easy selection for an anniversary gift. Now, I can relax on the wonderful outdoor lounge chair she bought me for Father’s Day and not have to worry about going solo to buy another gift for anyone solo until Christmas.

Question: Can anyone provide tips on how to buy the right gifts for friends and loved ones?