by Cynthia Lynn

Created on: August 23, 2007

Remember a fiftieth anniversary with great gift ideas. A couple stays together in marriage for this long and where do you find that perfect gift? We could do the usual and go buy a gift that says, "Happy 50th Anniversary." I wanted something different to remind them of this special occasion for a long time.

My sister-in-law rented a beach house for one week to celebrate her parent's fiftieth anniversary. My husband, brother, and I decided on a great gift idea. We knew one of their favorite songs, "Tennessee Waltz," would be a song my father-in-law would actually get up from his chair to dance with my mother-in-law. We were going to surprise my in-laws with a performance of one of their favorite songs.

We had to act fast, in order to pull this off in time, before meeting everyone at the beach house. I printed the sheet music for the song's lyrics and guitar chords from the Internet. My husband and brother pulled out their guitars and squeezed in as many hours as possible practicing the rhythm of the song. Once they had the hang of it we practiced singing the song.

We arrived with a cake and socialized. No one knew of our plan. We slipped away from everyone and went downstairs on the deck to prepare for the performance. On a nice breezy part of the beach house deck is where we setup the equipment and lawn chairs. Everyone was asked to come downstairs. My father-in-law loves music and likes to sing. He had a grin on his face when he saw the guitars. My father-in-law knew my husband and brother would play a few tunes he could sing. What he didn't know was the song they were about to play would be one of his favorites.

Everyone gathered around and found a place to sit with my in-laws being seated front and center. We announced our congratulations to the couple of a fiftieth anniversary and for this couple we would like to dedicate one of their favorite songs, "Tennessee Waltz." The surprised look on my in-laws face when they heard the music and watched us sing the song. This one moment was worth every minute of our time spent rehearsing. My mother-in-law was ready to dance and my father-in-law did get up from his chair to dance. Some beach goers walking by stopped to look at this couple dancing. Pictures were taken as everyone enjoyed the sentimental moment of watching the dance. The smile on their face portrayed an accomplishment in life known only to this couple and more memories to cherish of fifty married years.

Here are some other great gift ideas presented to the couple. My brother decorated a six-pack of his homemade beer to present to my father-in-law. For my mother-in-law, my brother attached a huge bow to a gorgeous wooden box and placed four bottles of his homemade wine inside the box. My husband and I wrapped a humming bird wind chime. My mother created a basket with tea cloth napkins, potpourri, and other gifts. My in-laws were still in shock from the performance as they read their cards and unwrapped presents.

My in-laws will remember their anniversary gift for a long time. The memories will return each time they break out their gifts, for a few sips, on special occasions. There are plans to sing the song again and record it on a CD as another gift for my in-laws. This was one of the greatest gift ideas for a fiftieth anniversary.

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