<p>My good friend has had an awful couple of years. Her husband left her suddenly, her kids have had a very hard time dealing with it, and one child has had serious health issues. She is the strong one whom everyone leans on, including the soon-to-be ex-husband, who relied on her for help during his anxiety crises. She has been pushed to her breaking point. I have been very worried about her. But she has come through it all and is doing much better now.</p>
<p>I’m taking her out tomorrow to celebrate her birthday, and I’m having trouble thinking of a gift. I usually don’t have any difficulty coming up with gift ideas for her, but I am stuck and feeling pressured.</p>
<p>D1 got me one for Christmas with the word strength on it, after I’d had a couple of particularly trying years. I wore it often and thought of her when I’d put it on. I was just nearing the point this past spring that I thought I was ready to give it away (which is the idea behind the gift) when I was diagnosed with cancer and had surgery; I wore that thing almost non-stop up until they were ready to take me back to surgery. </p>
<p>The classic pendant is what D got me. </p>
<p>From their website: (in a nutshell)
The Giving Keys exists to employ those transitioning out of homelessness to make jewelry out of repurposed keys that get sold and shared around the world. Each key is unique and carries a message like HOPE, STRENGTH, DREAM or COURAGE. When the wearer of the key encounters someone else who needs the message on the key, they give it away and then send us the story of their key being paid forward.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the great suggestions! I was blown away by the keys, teriwtt, and I ordered one. It’s such a lovely idea, and perfect for her. I ordered the dainty two-sided key, with two words that I thought would be perfect for her, BREATHE and CREATE. Thank you so much for the idea!</p>
<p>I’m SO touched that you found them to be a good idea (I kind of got teary-eyed). Mine means so much to me, but I think part of it was remembering D1’s face when I opened the gift and she realized what a hit it was for me. One of the first things she asked me was, “You’ve never heard of them?” I hadn’t, but her question made me realize that this gift idea must be a sort of up-and-coming idea that is gaining traction, and she was glad that she got me in on the band wagon. </p>
<p>Hopefully in her working conditions, she won’t give away the key too quickly!</p>
<p>She will give the key away, I know, and for her it will be like receiving a gift a second time. She finds her work profoundly satisfying, as it provides a means of expression to women who have very little in life. </p>
<p>How about lots of small gifts given to her every ten minutes at dinner. Could include stationary, the key gift, a book, cake, flowers, a car wash, $5 starbucks gc, pretty scented soap (love the peppermint pump) from whole foods, new key chain, magazine subscription, pretty mug from anthropologie, and other things that are just plain pretty. I also really love a good historical novel. Has she read, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” How about a set of mason jars all filled with different fun things. Could be very inexpensive things. You could also present some of the above gifts in mason jars. You could tie the jars with pretty ribbons. </p>