Unique Retirement Gifts

what do you do at a retirement party?

My mother in law is retiring from Qwest Phone company after 40 years, what normally goes on at a retirement party? SHe is having it at a restaurant, and i know we can have food and drinks, are we supposed to bring her a gift or card or something?

Public Comments

1. a cake would be good cause its a great acomplishment to have worked and finally get time off how about a gift to like "your first get away without worrying about work" I hope there woul dbe a presentation of her and her accomplishments in her working life.
2. Drink 20 to 30 beers
3. Everyone that I have been to, they normally present them with a cake, flowers and gifts/cards. Gifts/cards at the beginning of the evening and cake/flowers after the meal. Hope she has a good time? have a great night and give her my best wishes. xxx
4. not a gift but there is some cards of retirement
5. celebrate ......... treat it like any other party, you should really celebrate ,because she doesnt have to work anymore.
6. A gift is a nice idea. Maybe something the whole family chips in for....a holiday or spa day. Take a lot of pictures. Have the kids say something special about her, write cards or poems etc.
7. It varies. I would probably get her a gift card, but I would probably give it to her in advance of the retirement party itself that way it is private and more personal from you two.