Help! I need a good present for....

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

My lifelong friend…

Yeah, I know. Shouldn’t the best person to think of one be me, if I’ve known him his entire life and 99% of mine?

But, apparently not.

It’s his 21st in a few weeks. I’ve been thinking about it for ages, expecting that something would occur to me. But time is marching on and I have no ideas. No good ones.

I would really appreciate any and all ideas that might happen across the doper hive mind.

We’re big on board and card games and usually birthdays and christmas presents between us are neat or unusual games or accessories for them. That, or some amusing knick knack or other (there have been star trek action figures, books on how best to become a pirate, etc that sort of nonsense).

Occasionally we’ve bought each other tickets to bands/comedians who come to town.

However, I would like this present to be in some way special. It’s his 21st so most of his presents will be special, knowing his family & friends. I would rather mine didn’t pale in comparison. I have had a bad year and he’s been very helpful and comforting, so I don’t really feel I can just get any old thing.

That said, I’d rather it wasn’t overly sentimental - we tend to wrinkle our noses at cheesy/corny gifts.

Picky, aren’t I?

Now, some stuff about him…

Good sense of humour, leaning towards british. Semi-geeky. Aspiring actor who is doing quite well, rising quickly through our local theatre scene and beyond. Intelligent & well educated to boot. Interested in philosophy and the arts. Annoyingly talented at singing and with musical instruments. Reads a lot of varied things including various science fiction & fantasy books, a lot of plays, some humourous novels… and as I said, we both love interesting and/or unique board & card games. Or funny ones. By interesting I tend to mean interesting in terms or their origin or history, but also interesting to play, interestingly structured - if that makes sense.

One of those impressive/fancy wooden chess sets would be just perfect - if he didn’t already have one.

I’ll add more if I think of anything relevant.

If anybody has any ideas, or leanings towards ideas… that would be fantastic. Appreciate your help!

What gifts have you received that were special to you? I’m interested to know as well as to pilfer ideas!

Now, back to tearing out my hair…

2

Tickets to Spamalot, if it’s in your area?

3

Wow, that would absolutely Plan A.

But, I should have included location information - I’m in Canberra, Australia.

But seriously, in all other respects, that’s a fantastic idea. If the show ever comes down here, he’s getting tickets on the birthday nearest to it.

4

How about a nicely bound copy of Shakespeare’s Complete Works? That seems to be appropriate for a 21st birthday for a theatrically inclined sort. That’s the sort of volume one would have for life, so the 21 mark is most just for the gift.

Well, he may have that already, so, I’ll suggest this; Bagpipe lessons. No, I’m serious. I’m in the Southern US, with a few bagpipe teachers. It’s a real wonderful tradition. If you have it in Australia, too, the pipes are an amazing art, with a panoply of enthusiasts. Very dramatic here in the SE US, festivals and such. If your friend is of Scots descent, this would be a fine gift.

5

Had you not mentioned you were in Australia, I would have said “Why aren’t you just taking him out and getting him drunk off his ass for his 21st?”

So now I got nothing.

6

Buy him an iPod.

While you’re at it, buy me one too. Pretty please?

Seriously, though–You mention he’s a talented musician. Has he talked about any instruments lately? More than usual? Any particular instrument? With any particular brand name in front of it? “You know, I ran into this guy I hadn’t seen in years and he had his Fender AX-7160 guitar and we jammed out for a while…”

7

My idea of a good gift is something that will create a memory for both of you. Therefore, I think a concert is in order.

Now, if there’s nothing in town that the two of you are interested in, you can present him with an IOU for whenever “The Big Concert” is in town.

That and dinner…he’s gonna love it and remember it forever.