Ideas for a moving-away gift needed

[HappyGrace]

First of all, is it the protocol to give something to a friend who is moving out of state? We'll be meeting for a good-bye playdate and I'm not sure if I should bring something or not. She's extremely wealthy, has absolutely everything, and has made it clear several times that they are getting rid of a TON of stuff so they don't have to move a lot. So I don't want to bring in more. I know she would not be expecting anything, but I'd like to give her something. I thought about a book because she loves to read, but they are actually close friends with RC Sproul, Charles Stanley, etc.-they have literally a library of autographed books from nearly every author.

I think I'm feeling a little unsure too because recently for a friend that was moving FAR away, we made a Christmas ornament-beautiful bulb with ribbons and a calligraphy quote that was meaningful to both families, plus our family's name and the date-and she seemed really put off that they were already packed and now what were they supposed to do with a fragile ornament on their cross-country drive (she didn't say that but it was obvious in other ways.)

So what do you usually do when a friend moves away?

[sdWTMer]

I think that the best gift that you can give, is to stay in touch! She is the one moving away, yes, but it would be nice if others tried as well. Just my two cents.

[8FillTheHeart]

Gifts I have received that I have been very thankful for are photo albums with pictures included of some of our times together and an address book with friends addresses pre-entered. You could simply take a card that tells her that you'll miss her friendship, or some pretty stationary.

I don't think you need to take anything though. Saying good-bye is just plain hard no matter how you do it.

[Brenda in FL]

Well, I would have suggested a Christmas ornament - but . . .

Sounds like she has children - you could get them something to do in the car during the drive.

When one friend moved cross-country, we gave a group gift of the Chronicles of Narnia set from FOF Radio Theatre.

Another friend that was miving - I gave them Beethoven's Wig, because their daughter had enjoyed listening to it when she was in our car.

And a cd or audio book 0 they don't have to pack!

[chai]

I just moved last fall. My friends got together and ordered a huge bouquet of flowers to be delivered to my new home. My entire house was in chaos, but I had this gorgeous vase of flowers and thought of them every time I saw it. I loved it!