Gifts for Grandparents

There are some items in all our homes that are both neglected and sacred. Clothes, books; jars of achaar we'd finish if only our schedules allowed - gifts from grandparents, given to us on holidays or just because. What, then, makes for good presents for these people who never seem to fall short of stories to tell, memories to share and food to feed?

Books 
When C.S. Lewis wrote, “Someday you'll be old enough to read fairy tales again”, he had someone like my grandmother in mind. For a woman who has spent a lifetime writing stories (that made up my mealtimes) for and about children, I can think of no better gift than a book of fairytales. 

Meanwhile, my grandfather's shelves were always bursting with names like Sidney Sheldon, Dan Brown and countless biographies and historical accounts. They were shelves I learned to borrow from, and ones I would've loved to add to if their owner were still with us. 

Grandparents have always been storytellers, be it at dinner tables or naptimes. It would be nice to bring the stories to them for a change. Give them something to enjoy over their cups of tea if their eyesight allows or better yet, read to them regardless. 

Movies and Music
My other pair of grandparents was a somewhat cooler bunch – they were my TV buddies. It was while lying between them that I learned to watch everything from Hindi soap operas to The Mummy Returns. 

Gifting grandparents with movies or music albums can do two things. Collections and concert tickets of old artists and actors they loved can be a welcome trip of nostalgia that anyone would love. Bringing to them new ones that we think they might enjoy is a gesture that invites them into our lives, however fast-paced it may be. It says that they're still as relevant to us as Big Hero 6 and Avengers: Age of Ultron, and also “thank you for all the stories and lullabies when I was an annoying 4-year-old, Nanu.”

Memories
Every time we pose for family pictures with my grandmother on Eid, she asks me to print them out for her. Every time, I forget. 

While we're happy with storing our memories digitally in this age, they mean enough to our grandparents that they need to be made tangible. Family pictures, framed or compiled in albums, are something they cherish beyond anything. Digitally compiled home videos or slideshows would probably mean just as much, but be prepared to have it on repeat endless times. 

Technology & Recreation
My best friend, before leaving for USA for college, left her grandmother with a laptop, a smartphone and lessons on how to use Skype and WhatsApp. The pictures and long-distance conversations they shared made sure that neither of them felt lonely the 4 years that they were apart. 

For another grandfather-grandson duo that I know, getting the former signed up and back in touch with his billiard buddies proved to be one of the best presents in their lives. 

For grandparents who are a little less tech-friendly, endless tutorials are admittedly a part of the deal. But giving them the means of staying in touch with their friends and family, both old and new, would hold immeasurable value. 

Honestly, we could think of endless other gifts that would bring smiles to our grandparents' faces. You could choose any one of the many extravagant options, or go with the easiest one - call and let them know you're going over for the weekend, and you'd like them to cook you your favourite meal. Trust me; it's the one that they like the best. 

Sarah Anjum Bari is a ravisher of caffeine and prose, with a heart that lives in Parisian cafes. Reality checks to be sent in at s.anjumbari@gmail.com.