If your parents are like mine, they already have ALMOST EVERYTHING. What do you select as an appropriate anniversary gift of 39 years without the ho-hum of the usual bottle of champagne, movie passes or gift card from the favorite steakhouse? This year, since I started an eBay store, I decided to try my luck at finding a unique gift on eBay. I wanted something that was not super-expensive but, well, nostalgic!

My sister confided in me that she is making baskets for her friends this year for Christmas. I stole her idea and decided to hunt for vintage items for an anniversary basket. Our parents were married in 1967, so I started searching eBay for trinkets that were made that year. I looked for movies, music, artwork, clothes, and anything else that caught my eye. Most of the items listed below were found as last minute bargains or buy-it-now listings.

For some background information on these items, my dad had a gold, 1965 GTO car when he met my mom and was managing a band that recently cut an album. My mom loves anything blue and collects Pfaltzgraff china. They met in Anchorage, Alaska, then came back to Pennsylvania to get married. These are the treasures I found:

• 1 to 24 scale 1965 Pontiac GTO - gold just like Dad's old one, and large enough for my dad's aging eyes (not like a Hot Wheel)
• Set of 2 Pfaltzgraff wine goblets - blue, Yorketown pattern from 1967
• Two music CDs with vintage rock hits from 1967, including the Hello Goodbye hit from the Beatles that topped the charts
• Pennsylvania Dutch cookbook - copyright in 1967, my mom had a copy of this in our kitchen when I was growing up
• US mint coin set from 1967
• VHS copy of the movie Bonnie and Clyde from 1967
• Sears fall and winter catalog from 1967 - you should check out these prices!
• Vintage nightgown from the Christmas 1967 Sears catalog - actually in my mom's size
• Postcard depicting an aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska in 1966 - close!
• 45rpm record of a hit song from 1967 - performed by the band my dad managed at the time
• Saturday Evening Post magazine - published the EXACT day my parents were married
• Jim Beam whiskey decanter commemorating the purchase of Alaska and shaped like the 49th state!

None of these items cost more than $20 including shipping and each is bound to bring back a few, fond memories for my favorite couple! To top off the gift items, my sister-in-law has volunteered to work her creative magic to find and decorate a basket for all of these. My sister and her husband are chipping in a bottle of vintage wine or champagne for the gift. I can't wait until they open it in a few weeks! I love my parents, finding and collecting old things and working with eBay. For me, this was a triple bogie! Hope it helps spark some memories for you as well. Merry Christmas eBay community. Happy nostalgic shopping...