Want to do something nice...

[OilersBaby]

So my dad, mom, and brother live in Calgary. Im here in San Jose and my sis in Chicago. My dad has cancer and I want to do something nice. It doesnt have to cost a lot of money, my budget is about 1000......I'm not sure what to do.

Originally my sis, brother, husband and I were going to fly my parents in to Orlando for Christmas because my dad's dream is to visit the NASA Space Center place in Cape Canaveral or however you spell it. However, Im not 100% sure that's going to work because we were originally going to stay in a timeshare but the deadline to sign up for the timeshare has passed (we couldnt book it early enough because we didnt know how my dad's health was going to be and Christmas is still so far away) and I cant afford to pay for hotel (and airfare for my parents, myself and my husband). I dont want to ask my mom to pay for it, or my sister (cuz she just bought a condo and has insane mortgage payments) or my bro (cuz he just graduated uni and has barely started working his full time job.

So does anyone have any ideas? It's so hard..my daddy has done so much for my family growing up.........and Im not sure what to do. We can have a very special Christmas and Holiday season 2008 this way

Thanks CP, I know some of you will have good ideas.

To help out, he doesnt have an interest in cars or sports (like most men do). So no tickets to a hockey game or anything like that. He's an engineer and somewhat of a "nerd" and likes to learn about things. Thats why the trip to FLA to get away from the cold and go to the Space Center wouldve been awesome.

If I can't think of anything else Im just going to invite my parents, sister, and brother to come spend the holidays at my house since San Jose will have beautiful weather (maybe a lil rain but thats ok) and we can hang out here..but I was trying to do something special for just my dad that would mean something to him. He's not hard to please. Last winter he came and said hed always wanted a leather jacket but never got one because they were so expensive and he would rather spend that money helping his kids. Thats the kind of man he is.

[Daradon]

Hmmm,

When you mentioned 'nerd' I thought maybe get a great game all of you could play together, computer or otherwise. Some sort of bonding idea.

Maybe you want to put together a special album, have people write special things with lots of pics. Especially in times of sickness, those close to the heart things mean a lot.

I dunno, I wsh you and you father luck though.

[Gobsgraham]

You mention missing the timeshare cutoff but there are a lot of relatively inexpensive full houses on VRBO. That way you don't have to rent 2 hotel rooms. If that is his dream, I think you should do that (and maybe don't wait until Christmas). Your brother and sister should help out even if it hurts a little because I am sure that your parents struggled at one point or another and had to cut out a few things they wanted to do.

If you are going to do this, I will send you $25 to get things rolling too. Wait a second, I just realized your an Oilers fan so maybe only $10. Just kidding.

[dissentowner]

You should get him a leather jacket too.

[mykalberta]

Kennedy space centre is very very nice and well worth it. Also Busch Gardens Tampa is pretty sweet as well

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by fotze

I was thinking the same thing. People go into deep debt for some pretty stupid crap like cars and jewellry and other unimportnat things, this is definately not one if them. Get a line of credit that all three can pay into. Debts suck, but paying that one off over the years would actually make you feel pretty damn good. Regret sucks worse than interest payments.

Now a philosopher?

But I agree - don't make yourself destitute, but if you need to scrimp for a bit to make this happen it sounds like it would be for a great cause.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by fotze

I was thinking the same thing. People go into deep debt for some pretty stupid crap like cars and jewellry and other unimportnat things, this is definately not one if them. Get a line of credit that all three can pay into. Debts suck, but paying that one off over the years would actually make you feel pretty damn good. Regret sucks worse than interest payments.

Agreed, many times over. This can't be considered money poorly spent. A very solid idea.

[OilersBaby]

thanks for the ideas and messages. sorry i havent checked the off topic forum and this thread since i posted this.

im hoping that the doctor allows him to travel at this point. my sister in law is getting married in sept in Lexington but my dad cant travel to that (even though he wanted to so he could see all of the family and hang out with my husband and i) so im not sure if december will work.

any ideas for anything that doesnt involve travelling in case he doesnt get medical clearance to go to Florida?

[OilersBaby]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

You should get him a leather jacket too.

my bought him one already

[OilersBaby]

Originally Posted by Gobsgraham

You mention missing the timeshare cutoff but there are a lot of relatively inexpensive full houses on VRBO. That way you don't have to rent 2 hotel rooms. If that is his dream, I think you should do that (and maybe don't wait until Christmas). Your brother and sister should help out even if it hurts a little because I am sure that your parents struggled at one point or another and had to cut out a few things they wanted to do.

If you are going to do this, I will send you $25 to get things rolling too. Wait a second, I just realized your an Oilers fan so maybe only $10. Just kidding.

whats VRBO?

[Phanuthier]

Is there anything from NASA you (he) would want that an acquaintance of someone who works for NASA can get their hands on that would be of value? Most notably, the JWST?