My girlfriend and I have been going out for a couple months now and everything is going good. Lately however she's been obviously depressed and just a bit down about everything. When she's with me she seems okay, but from talking to other people and from talking on the phone with her or texting she is obviously pretty desolate and debased. So obviously I want to do whatever I can to lighten her day, if only for a moment. I talk to her a lot and will listen to her vent for hours, but I want to go further and try to get her something that she will love.
I should explain that the reasoning for this depression is her ever increasing to see her mom. ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) took her life a little over four years ago, right after my girlfriend had graduated high school. I didn't know her then, but it seems like she was extremely close to her mom and was completely lost for awhile after it happened.
Anyway. I was wondering if there is something I could get her, or something I can do for her that would bring back happy memories of her mom when she was healthy. I didn't know her mom, nor did anyone I know at the time. So any personal photographs from other families isn't much of an option.
It doesn't have to specifically involve her mom. Maybe it could be a moving book about someone with ALS. Since her mom's death, she has been involved in a lot of ALS charity work.
The only thing I've come up with that even remotely sounds like a decent idea is photoshopping her mom into a recent picture of her and siblings, or just her. However, since I didn't know her, I'm not sure if me doing something specifically about her mom would be offensive to them. I don't want them to think that I understand how her mom was and how they now feel. I don't and never can. I just think that something like this would make her happy. She's not a closed book about it. She talks about her mom and her disease all the time with me, for which I am extremely grateful. She's been extremely strong throughout the last four years dealing with various terrible things that arose related to the death. I just want to let her know that I admire the hell out of her for being able to do that. I know I would be a crying ball of nothingness for a good year if someone that close to me died.
I know this is a bit much to ask since none of you obviously know my gf or her mom, but I don't think you have to. She's out of town right now and I'll be picking her up at the airport in a few days and want to give her a welcome home present.
*Actually I just thought of another one. Not sure if it's too cheesy though. What about naming a star after her mom? I know it's done a lot, but it would represent her mom looking down on her. Even though both of us are complete atheists, it's the symbolism that matters.
I'll appreciate any and all help. Thanks
I should explain that the reasoning for this depression is her ever increasing to see her mom. ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) took her life a little over four years ago, right after my girlfriend had graduated high school. I didn't know her then, but it seems like she was extremely close to her mom and was completely lost for awhile after it happened.
Anyway. I was wondering if there is something I could get her, or something I can do for her that would bring back happy memories of her mom when she was healthy. I didn't know her mom, nor did anyone I know at the time. So any personal photographs from other families isn't much of an option.
It doesn't have to specifically involve her mom. Maybe it could be a moving book about someone with ALS. Since her mom's death, she has been involved in a lot of ALS charity work.
The only thing I've come up with that even remotely sounds like a decent idea is photoshopping her mom into a recent picture of her and siblings, or just her. However, since I didn't know her, I'm not sure if me doing something specifically about her mom would be offensive to them. I don't want them to think that I understand how her mom was and how they now feel. I don't and never can. I just think that something like this would make her happy. She's not a closed book about it. She talks about her mom and her disease all the time with me, for which I am extremely grateful. She's been extremely strong throughout the last four years dealing with various terrible things that arose related to the death. I just want to let her know that I admire the hell out of her for being able to do that. I know I would be a crying ball of nothingness for a good year if someone that close to me died.
I know this is a bit much to ask since none of you obviously know my gf or her mom, but I don't think you have to. She's out of town right now and I'll be picking her up at the airport in a few days and want to give her a welcome home present.
*Actually I just thought of another one. Not sure if it's too cheesy though. What about naming a star after her mom? I know it's done a lot, but it would represent her mom looking down on her. Even though both of us are complete atheists, it's the symbolism that matters.
I'll appreciate any and all help. Thanks