Have you noticed lately that everyone seems to be talking about the "good old days"? Almost every industry is going retro. There's retro furniture and accessories, music jukeboxes, cars, jewelry, fashion, art. Even the music and food industries are going retro. This trend has been explained as a feeling of nostalgia for a return to the age of innocence, perhaps to escape the stress of a culture seeking to cope with our technology explosion. Everybody seems to have a sentimental yearning or longing for something past.



Nostalgia gifts are very special gifts because they appeal to fond memories of the past, certain periods of time that form our life experiences and bring overwhelming feelings of acceptance and security among other things. How about that little league game, that cheer leading season, that first car you can remember and the long trips to Florida in the simmer. So many things can kick off that nostalgia mood because it is a walk down memory lane.

Think about it. You take a little whopping spree into your local mall and you stumble upon a vintage toy that takes you back to when you were just five years old and you find yourself reminiscing over those wonderful years when things were much simpler. Just those few moments of nostalgia can help relieve the strain of coping with the day's trials and responsibilities and give a lift to your spirits.

Most gifts are welcome and exciting to receive. But one that is as unique as a Nostalgia gift, able to evoke such intense emotions each time you see it, touch it or use it, is one that keeps giving throughout a lifetime, because of the memories that linger. It is a gift most appreciated because it is more personalized than even a monogrammed gift; it reaches to the very heart of the recipient.

Do you remember how often birthdays were so troublesome for you because you never knew what this particular person wanted or liked? Remember how difficult it was to get the gift that would be sure to please? And I suspect that person would be a male member of the family, a husband or father. I was always so disappointed when my father's face would reflect disappointment with his gift. I think women are much easier to buy for, don't you?

Yes, I do believe that women, especially mothers, are more prone to explain just what they want, even where to get it. In the case with my father, it was hard because he wanted to be sure to get exactly what he wanted, no substitutes accepted. I suspect he needed to feel it, hold it and carefully inspect every inch of it because it was usually a tool of some kind that he wanted and it had to be just right. I just remember something besides a tool he would have loved-a music jukebox.

Well, let me tell you something that most all dads and husbands would be very happy to receive for any holiday, whether it be Christmas, birthday or Father's Day, and that is a Nostalgia gift; a gift that would escort his thoughts back down memory lane taking him back to this childhood or teen years or even early marriage life.

I guarantee he would be pleased really pink with something like a music jukebox, a neon sign, a special electronic gift, or some other unique gift. Because it wasn't the usual tie or belt, some kind of shirt or shaving lotion, he would feel really special. With the men folk uniqueness seems to be a key element for satisfaction-and that's what you are looking for in a gift.