I'd like your opinion

14 years ago

As some of you know, I moved from Detroit to Guatemala a few years ago. I'm going back for a visit this summer. I will be staying with one of my dearest friends who is eighty two years old. In a phone conversation about a year ago she mentioned that she would like to get a hammock for her garden. I want to bring her a gift and hand made hammocks are plentiful around here. I thought of asking in our next phone call if she is still wanting a hammock, and if so, buying one to take to Detroit for her. I mentioned this to some friends and every one of them thought it was a bad idea because of her age. Â¨Why get her something she won't be able to useÂ¨, and Â¨I can barely get in and out of a hammock and I'm only in my fiftiesÂ¨ are only a few of the comments I heard. True, there are lots of other lovely things made around here that I could take as a gift. BUT-personally, I would hate to have someone else make that kind of judgement about me. I'm inclined to trust her to know her own capabilities. If she wants a hammock, I want to give her one. But considering the reactions of my friends, I'm wondering what you all think. Hammock or not?

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Comments (13)

jazmynsmom
14 years ago
If she says she wants a hammock, I'd get her a hammock. I'm sure your friends mean well, but...
User
14 years ago
In one of my houses years ago the next door neighbor was a 93 year old lady who could out garden any one on the block. The genes ran well in her family as her 71 year old, tall, lanky son would come over to help her and one day I looked out the back just when he was hopping over the 6 foot fence like a high jumper 4 times in ten minutes. He was repairing the fence. Age is a state of mind.
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lilod
14 years ago
Get the hammock! If she still wants it, that is. I am 86 years old and if I ask for something, I know that I have a reason to ask - hate it when someone makes the decision that I "may" not know what I can do or not. If I am not able, I'll find out.
And yes, if I had a hammock I'd be able to get in and out of it.
gabriell_gw
14 years ago
Mention it again and if she still wants one get it for her.What a nice gift!
calliope
14 years ago
Oh geesh, when my Mama was eighty two, she was still climbing up on her roof to clean the gutters. I hate it....HATE IT....when people force their own perspectives on the elderly. Frankly many of them have no conception about the aging process. I used to hire in almost twenty-somethings to help out with my planting in spring and stopped doing it, because I did all the heavy shovel work and foot work and they stood over a bench all day and whined about how tired they were. rofl.

I have a hammock made in Mexico. One of those huge ones you can (and some do) stuff a whole family in. I frankly had to wait for some of my trees to get large enough to string it up.

It would be worth the effort if she only looked at it. There is nothing so peaceful as a hammock strung in a garden.
anneliese_32
14 years ago
Wished I still could use my hammock, the body is willing and able, but one of my two hammock trees perished in last year's icestorm. If she still wants one, get it.
I too hate it when somebody tells me that due to my age I can't do something. Hogwash.
gardenkat
Original Author
14 years ago
It looks as though the ayes have it. I should just trust my own instinct, but this time I got sidetracked by all the naysayers. Glad I came here to get another perspective. I'll be talking to my friend next week and if she still wants a hammock, she'll be getting one from Guatemala. Thanks for helping me make the right decision.
Janis_G
14 years ago
Oh! what a boring life we'd lead if all the
naysayers we would heed!!!
tisha_
14 years ago
If she's planning to attach it to two sturdy, healthy trees, I say go for it. If she plans to instead use one of those hammock stand things, I say NO WAY! My aunt, who was not even 50 at the time, and in very good health, badly injured her back when one collapsed while she was in it (and she is not a large person!)
Pidge
14 years ago
I am with all the folks who say, "Get the hammock." It doesn't really matter whether she can get in or out of it. If she wants it and you can give it to her, go for it. She might just need to know that someone loves her enough to listen to her wants and to fulfill her desires.
west_gardener
14 years ago
I'd say buy the hammock. That's what she said she wanted. She said she wanted for her "garden". Perhaps she has a wish and a vision of a hammock for her garden. She may never get into it and if she does, you have helped fulfill her wish.
queenbee_1
13 years ago
I have two uncles that are well into their 80's and LOVE my hammock and my sky chairs..I have a 93yr old aunt who picked a bushel of peas last fall, she still rakes and cleans, and when she comes over she grabs my sky chairs.. The hammock might not be for her--she could want it for guest or she might want to try it.. I would make a suggestion- If you get it for her , try to find a quilted liner for it so the ropes aren't jabbing her..It makes it much more comfortable.. and easier to get in and out of in my opinion..
sylviatexas1
13 years ago
She said a year ago she'd like one;
she's only a year older than she was then.

I'd like your opinion

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jazmynsmom

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I'd like your opinion

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