Hatrack River Forum: I need some advice and really quick!

This is topic I need some advice and really quick! in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

First of all, from henceforth on I shall refer to the respective men who had a parental relationship to me as my father and my step-father.

Okay, today is my father's birthday. I just found out, I didn't know ahead of time. If I'd known I'd have sent something. A card, or ...well, something.

So today's his birthday and I can't get anything sent to him...Should I send like an online gift certificate? Or, should I call him? I'm not 100% positive I'm ready for a phone call, that seems so much scarier than email to me. But, I know he said in email to my Mom that he really wanted to talk to me, but he would wait and let me call him when I was ready.

Would it be better to just let him know by email that I didn't know ahead of time and I'll send something late? Or just send something late without any comment? It seems really bad that I don't know my father's birthday...but then again, how would I? Unless my Mom told me, but it never came up.

I don't know what to do! [Angst]

Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :

I don't want you to feel pressured into calling him until you are sure you are ready...

Maybe just a Hallmark e-card with a nice message?
Let him know you had no idea until today, so haven't had time to send a real card?

I think a phone call would be a great gift to him, but you don't sound like you are ready for that yet..

hugs,
Farmgirl

Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :

Calling him might be good and pleasant and very instanct... Then you can tell him you'll send him a present and a topic on the right gift is bond to pop up....

Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :

I think sending him an email would be fine and telling him the gift will be late. I'm sure he'd understand that you weren't aware til recently.

Even though it's his birthday, I still wouldn't call until you are ready. If you are ready, go for it, but don't do it just because of that.

Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :

First of all, don't stress! If (and only if) you feel up to calling him, I think that would be a nice birthday present. Otherwise, send him an e-card for his birthday and tell him that you're sending his gift to him in the mail, but that it's going to be a tad late. [Smile]

[ February 27, 2004, 04:44 PM: Message edited by: ludosti ]

Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :

Well...if you feel up to it, it sounds like a call from you would be the best present you could possibly give him, and would be something that would make this birthday stand out to him for the rest of his life. If you're not ready for it, though, that's not a good enough reason to do it; that's something that has to be done on *your* timetable, and no one else's.

If you aren't up for calling him, and have an idea of what you'd like to get him, send him an e-card and let him know that you're sending him something. If not, get him a gift certificate from Amazon. That's my advice.

Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :

A gift certicicate is always nice. Maybe one from Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com. Let him know that you just found out.

I'd prefer it if everyone gave me gift certificates as presents, especially from Barnes & Noble. Barnes & Noble

edited for spelling

[ February 27, 2004, 04:44 PM: Message edited by: Derrell ]

Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :

You probably could get flowers delivered today if you wanted to go that route. Look up a local florist online and give them a call.

I definitely wouldn't feel bad about emailing him, though, and letting him know that you'd like to send him something but didn't know his birthday was today.

I wouldn't call unless you are ready and definitely not before you've had some time to prepare.

Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :

The best thing to do is easy. Put together a card and bribe the postal worker into setting back the postmark stamp to like a week before. That way it looks like the mail system is to blame and not you for the late card.

Posted by peterh (Member # 5208) on :

Online gift certificates are great. You can send them instantly and no one ever knows you just remembered or found out 5 minutes before. Also if you travel to bn.com or amazon.com through this site, you give some money to hatrack too.