Best Gifts for the Nostalgic

Do you know someone who is certain that the old days were the best? Someone who isn't so keen on new traditions and new ways of living? If you need to buy a gift for the holidays or a birthday, a nostalgic gift may be the perfect thing to satisfy that discontent.

Of course, the antique field is wide open with everything nostalgic, from poodle skirts to whalebone corsets, from pinstripes to those wide collared navy suits... if you're into antique clothing. And if you want to go whole hog, how about a nostalgic (but working) version of the old wringer washer?

Ok, so that doesn't appeal, but what about gifts that can actually be used? There are more practical gifts that will be welcomed and cherished for their "now" factor and their nostalgic connotations, too.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Couple today's technology with yesterday's old time radio broadcasts and what do you have? Radio broadcasts on DVD's that will create a nostalgic evening for them (or just him or just her). They're just like listening to the old radio without the static! Give them a gift of a DVD collection of World War II broadcasts, or historical sports broadcasts or great old comedies like Jack Benny and Fibber McGee and Molly... or how about Don McNeil's Breakfast Club? You don't know who they are? Don't worry, the old folks will and they'll appreciate your effort in giving them something special.

2. If they're not quite that old, classic TV programs can also be found on DVD. You can find everything from I Love Lucy and Andy Griffith to Colombo, Dr Who, Rawhide, Frank Sinatra, Gilligan's Island... almost any TV show that ran for more than one season is now on DVD. These tales of a simpler life and a more genteel era will carry them happily away to times past.

3. On another note altogether, do you remember candy cigarettes? How about wax lips? Cherry Mash? Or how about Bubble Gum Cigars or Fruit Stripe Gum? Maybe you don't, but they probably will. Before cigarettes were demonized and when sugar was still the main ingredient in candy, these candies were special treats, not every day fare, and a gift of them will bring back some sweet memories to anyone who remembers them!

4. Ok, so Fels Naptha soap may not be the nostalgic item she's yearning for, (you never know) but you can buy it. You can also find the original Wonder Pine Tar Soap. I knew a girl who used that in grade school and everyone could smell her coming, but she had beautiful skin... Well, too much information, but still... you can buy it. Kirk's Pure Castile soap is probably more what you'd want to buy - and (do you remember this one?) LifeBuoy! Soaps were simpler then, just like life was.

5. According to age: go retro. Items from the 60's and 70's are not so old that they're too expensive for a more casual gift, but they're old enough and special enough to evoke a smile or even a tear. Colors then were red, turquoise, chartreuse, purple, gold and silver. Pink went with red and orange and green went with blue and purple... Good, solid colors. Plastic was the new material loved by designers and consumers alike. Chrome accented everything from dinettes to trunks. Got it? So go looking for retro gifts.

When you go looking for nostalgic gifts, take into consideration the time frame the recipient grew up in. Ask him or her about the things they enjoyed when they were children and listen to their memories. That will give you some clues as to what they really do remember. If their history doesn't go beyond hula hoops, they may not appreciate anything much earlier than that!