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My previous post inspired me to start thinking about Father’s Day.  I know, it’s a little too soon after Mother’s Day, but seriously, it’s going to fall upon us sooner than you think, and if you’re anything like me, it will come as a complete surprise; “Whoa!  It’s Father’s Day, already?  Dang, I need to go get my dad something!”

This happened to me for Mother’s Day.  I still have yet to give my wife the card I bought her (you think I’m joking about that).

This post is for those of you who happen to still stumble upon this blog from time to time who might be wondering what to get Dad for Father’s Day.  Trust me, it’s never too soon to start thinking about what to get him.  Heck, while you’re at it, you might as well start thinking about Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, and next Father’s Day, too!  But just in case you don’t plan that far ahead, and you are only concerned about this Father’s Day, here’s some ideas.

Okay, speaking as a dad, I can tell you that your dad wants these (note, these have been blogged before, but it never hurts to remind you):

The water bazooka thingy mentioned in the last post is a good start.

His own, working jet car

His own FAO Schwarz-branded Motion Simulator ride.

A quadski.

And the ultimate home theater television display.

If $28 million is a little out of your price range, you could always get him a giant inflatable home-theater screen, which will only run you about $12,000.00.

Now, for the more practically minded, I can say that while those gifts above would make your father delirious with child-like giddiness no matter how old he is, most of it is probably outside of your capabilities. And I know for a fact that the FAO Schwarz motion simulator ride is overpriced (you can get a good used one for half that on eBay, easy).  So if your father is anywhere near my age (I won’t mention that I’m 38), then I will make the following suggestion:

Your father most likely graduated high school in the 80’s. Now, that is ancient history to you teenagers and early 20 somethings, but I guarantee it’s still in your father’s head like it just happened yesterday. He probably still revels in 80’s classics by Oingo Boingo, REM, REO Speedwagon, Simply Red, A-Ha, Adam Ant, Aerosmith, Huey Lewis and the News, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Hall and Oates, David Lee Roth, Def Leppard, and maybe even Duran Duran and (shudder) Culture Club. Trust me, anything that brings him back to the day of his own teenage years will be well appreciated - as long as it’s in good taste. There are things that even we 80’s children will gag on, such as leg warmers, parachute pants, and Geraldo Rivera. For most of us, the fashion of the 80’s was okay, but it was the music that really kicked butt. And don’t just find something that was of the 80’s, learn what his favorite bands were and do a little research on them. Your dad will appreciate that you learned a little about what makes him tick.

Neck ties, cologne, and golf balls are okay, but doing something that takes him back to his youth is going to mean a lot to him.   This same advice applies to those who’s fathers are older.

And it doesn’t hurt to throw a flux capacitor into the mix, either.