Friday, August 2, 2013

Friday Thirsty on Gifts

I am shamelessly using a thirsty, the rules of which I don't quite understand, even now, to ask a rather ordinary question, yet one which the readership of this blog will be able to answer better than anyone I actually know.

A dear friend's husband is celebrating the fact that he finally got his PhD.  I want to bring something, but am having a hard time thinking what that something should be. 

I want to get him something special.  He's a great guy, and this was really hard for him to finish. He almost didn't bother, the job market being what it is. 

So tell me, what is a good way to commemorate this achievement?  Yes, yes, I've already thought of booze, money, various bookstore gift cards, gifts relating to his various interests (all of which would be appreciated).   But I am just wondering if anyone here received anything that was truly pertinent and memorable to mark such a huge, underappreciated accomplishment.

15 comments:

  1. Get him a desk name plate with his Dr. ... name engraved on it. Classy, useful and personal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is a great idea! Thank you!!! I am face palming that I did not think of it!!! I know I am being a baby----but do you think Dr. John Smith or John Smith, PhD would be better? I just don't know-----and I cannot call any such name plates to mind, although I am sure I've seen many of them!

      Delete
    2. That's a good question. I think it depends on personal opinion. Some people don't like "Dr." because they don't want to be confused with a medical doctor while others think "..., PhD" is stuffy. Ask the recipient what he prefers without mentioning the reason.

      Not to start a fight here but I do not prefer fountain pens as a gift. They get lost too easily. A sturdy desk name plate is also a good weapon when necessary, all ideas of swords vs. pens aside.

      Delete
  2. Perfect gift, a fountain pen. It celebrates writing, the fact that she's written a dissertation, to remind her she's going to write a lot more.
    I might be outing merself here, but years ago I took repairing vintage fountain pens as a hobby, one of the goals being to gift a pen to anyone finishing her dissertation. The closest the person, the most extravagant, price-wise, I go.
    (Tangentially, if anyone out there just finished her dissertation I'll be happy to send her one. A Miserian I met in real life just got herself one :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I want to tell everyone that French Professeur gave me my own fountain pen when I got my PhD. It was during one of those rare events when CMers met up at a conference.

      The pen is deep green and beautiful and sits on my desk.

      But I also had someone give me a name plate that says "Academic Monkey, PhD" and I stupidly treasure it.

      Delete
    2. This is also a wonderful idea!! Thanks so much!

      Delete
  3. Yup, a nice fountain pen is good. If you know his subject and there is some standard reference work or presentation volume he doesn't have, that's always good and is more personal than a gift card. E.g., I gave a friend who had completed his Ph.D. in seventeenth century English poetry a lovely 19th century Paradise Lost with all Dore's engravings. I simply knew he didn't have anything like that, and he seemed genuinely delighted.
    A bullwhip and leather mask are always appropriate for either gender. Or maybe an engraved, pearl-handled TASER.
    A less good friend will be completing her PhD soon, and I think I'll start skimming off my lorazepam and give her a lovely coffee mug full.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kind of the opposite, but I'm doing some themed cross-stitch for my committee members and two other important profs/mentors who aren't on my committee for when I finish. I haven't even remotely thought about what I might want when I finish except to finish and tack "PhD" after my name. Oh, and a job.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, and French Professeur, I will totally take you up on that fountain pen offer. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A 1932 Sheaffer Balance Junior is waiting for you to graduate :P
      http://www.speerbob.com/ebay/balancejrgrey.jpg

      Delete
  6. Also the opposite, but I recently got a committee member who's been particularly helpful a really nice bottle of booze. Not very personal, but I think it did a good job of expressing my appreciation. When I myself finally complete, I'd like a new CM moniker, and the return of a modicum of equanimity.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Many of us who have acquired and accumulated tons of objects don't wish to have more objects. I would appreciate being invited to dinner. It's hard to beat dinner with a dear friend.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.