80th Birthday Ideas/Suggestions

[bapcap]

My step-dad's 80th birthday is coming up and I'm stumped as to what to do for him. He's the type that always says, "Don't get me a gift or party. I don't need anything." I understand he doesn't want much attention....but, heck, it's his 80th and that is something to celebrate, especially for him.
This man has had 2 open-heart surgeries in the past and is recovering from a badly broken leg last September. Also, he's a "saint" as far as I'm concerned when it comes to being married to my mother.
Any ideas or suggestions? Not planning a party, cause he would probably be upset with that.

 

[SpaceCadet]

Would he be upset if you and your Mother and he go out to dinner to celebrate?

 

[Shagley]

When my grandma turned 90 and she didn't want a party, we gave her a "card shower". We sent out postcards to all her family and friends asking them to send her a card to help her celebrate her birthday. She has tons of friends, so she got about 80-90 cards. She loved it (even though she acted disgusted at first when the cards started rolling in). It was a nice way to honor her special day, without throwing a big party or making her too uncomfortable by being the center of attention. Her birthday was last October and she still keeps her cards by her chair to read through every now and then.

 

[MIGrandma]

I'm not much of a "big party" type person for birthdays either. If it were me, what I would appreciate most, is just spending TIME with my children and grandchildren. A nice dinner out at a nice restaurant would be wonderful. Or doing something together as a family like a weekend destination trip. Something where I could just enjoy visiting with family, or watching the grandkids have fun doing some sort of activity. And maybe having a professional family portrait made to commemorate the occasion.

Here in our area we have a local small-town newspaper and each week there are a few "birthday celebration" announcements. Usually a picture of the birthday person, and an announcement of a party or card shower. I did a card shower for my Mom for her 75th birthday, along with her picture. She loved receiving so many cards for her birthday.

 

[family3indisney]

my grandmother was the same when she turned 80, she did not want any gifts. We ended up gathering many, many photos that we collected from family and friends. Lots of pictures of her family, vacations, pets .... We then had them all put on a DVD with music she loved. She was thrilled with this gift and cried happy tears!

 

[minkydog]

When my grandma turned 90 and she didn't want a party, we gave her a "card shower". We sent out postcards to all her family and friends asking them to send her a card to help her celebrate her birthday. She has tons of friends, so she got about 80-90 cards. She loved it (even though she acted disgusted at first when the cards started rolling in). It was a nice way to honor her special day, without throwing a big party or making her too uncomfortable by being the center of attention. Her birthday was last October and she still keeps her cards by her chair to read through every now and then.

I'm stealing this idea! My mother turns 80 in July and she definitely IS a party person. We're planning a party for her after church so all her little old lady and little old man friends don't have to drive after dark. But many of her family and friends live long distances away and wouldn't be able to attend a party. My mother loves nothing more than having all 5 of her children with her at the same time. It's total chaos with all the grands and great-grands, but she loves it. So we're all doing our best to make sure we can make it to her party this summer.

OP, I know you're dad wouldn't appreciate a party, but if you could get your siblings (if there are any) and any of his remaining siblings to meet at a restaurant and have a family dinner, I bet he'd like that. I would honor his desire for no presents. My mother is trying desperately to downsize her hoard and she has begged us for NO MORE STUFF. Christmas and birthday consists of gifts that can be consumed or gift cards for her dog groomer or vet or restaurant gift cards, which she holds until one of her kids comes down for a visit. She likes to use the gift cards to take us out to lunch.

 

[Sal]

My parents both had 80th birthdays recently. We celebrated with family gatherings, which they both preferred to big parties.

For my dad, we made a "top ten" type list of 80 things you might not know about... Some were funny, others just interesting facts/stories about my dad. For my mom, I wrote/emailed her family & friends and ask them to send me a favorite memory, funny story or picture of her. Then I made her a book with everything I got. I am not a crafty person, so I just got a folder with clear pages to insert the letters or emails I printed. I added a page with all of her favorite things and for the cover I used the poem "When I am an Old Lady I Shall Wear Purple" which she loves.

They both loved these memories far more than the gifts people would have given them.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

For my grandpa's 80th, we got him a walnut cracker shaped like a naked woman.

 

[Handbag Lady]

A puppy. EVERY 80 year-old really wants a puppy.

 

[bushdianee]

For my grandmother's 80th I filled a box with an assortment of 80 things. For example 80 bobby pins to hold her wigs on with, 80 sticks of her favorite gum, 80 stamps, 80 pieces of her favorite candy, etc.