I have always tried to give thoughtful gifts that fit the person I am giving to. I hate impersonal gifts that obviously weren't thought out. It just shows the giver doesn't think that much of you or is lazy. My mother became difficult to buy for after she got Alzheiner's. She was in her 80s and really didn't need anything, but I wanted to give her something special that would make her happy. ********* was coming and I wracked my brain trying to come up with something. I never did, so I didn't send her a gift. (She lived several states from me.) I knew she wouldn't care. She only knew it was ********* because she was told. Still, I kept thinking about a gift. A friend of mine had a degree in geriatric studies. She said to get my mother something like I would give my grandchild, something soft that she would like to touch. I still couldn't thon of anything. One day I went to the Cracker Barrel and wandered around looking at things while I waited to be seated. I love shopping at Cracker Barrel and just looking at all the beautiful things! I happened to be by the children's toy section when I looked up and saw the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. I've always liked them, though I never had one. I've bought them for children several times. I had thought about getting by mother a baby doll, but they are usually hard and I never saw one I thought was right. But Raggedy Ann was just right! She was soft and the perfect size - around 14″-16″. I debated between the Ann and Andy, either/or, or both, but I settled on just Raggedy Ann. I picked her up, felt of her and looked her all over. I tried to picture my mother with her. I wondered if a doll would insult my mother. Maybe she wouldn't like it. Maybe she'd think it was a stupid gift and wonder why anyone would give a doll to an elderly woman. I got Raggedy Ann anyway and sent it to my sister to take it to her. My mother loved her Raggedy Ann! My sister said she hugged her and petted her like a real baby. My mother had a walker with a basket on the front. From that day forward, my mother never went anywhere without Raggedy Ann. She took Ann to every meal, riding in the basket, and held her in her lap while watching TV. I don't know if she knew it was from me or not, but it doesn't matter. The Raggedy Ann made her happy. It was the last gift I ever gave my mother. She died a few months later. My sister suggested I take Raggedy Ann back after my mother died. Ann is now sitting on my dresser, a wonderful reminder of my mother and the best gift I ever gave.