Gifting season is over — let's all take a breather and get back to 'normal'

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill

Now that the gifting season has passed, the time has come to quickly eat the chocolates your loved one gave you and quietly exchange those new Christmas pants for a larger size or restart the diet you swore to stick to a year ago. What happened there? Is that fruitcake from grandma a re-gift from last year? When and how did all this giving get started anyway?

It is thought that the giving of gifts can be traced to the animal kingdom; male chimpanzee ancestors of humans enticed females with bits of food in exchange for mating favors. Moving up the evolutionary scale, early caveman and cavewoman gave each other little presents — a mammoth tusk, a tiger skin wrap, a new Gucci purse (if you could catch a Gucci) — to prove their ability to provide for the family. Tribal leaders rewarded their followers with gifts for their contributions to the clan.

Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations started the custom of celebrating birthdays with presents. At the other end of the life spectrum, they also buried wealthy people with elaborate gifts, such as clothing, bowls of food and special sweets.

The tradition of Christmas gifting can be traced back to the story of the three wise men carrying gold, frankincense and myrrh to new born baby Jesus. In the 13th century, French nuns made gifts and gave them to the needy on the eve of St. Nicholas, but Christmas gift giving really took off in the 18th century.

Holidays at Beaches Museum

The Beaches Museum received a special Christmas gift from Florida Humanities “American Rescue Plan” COVID Relief Funding. The $25,000 grant for general operating costs was given to ease the economic impact of the pandemic.

The generous grant certainly was a reason to rejoice. The museum celebrated with ”Holidays in the Village.” Trees and historic buildings were decked and lit, taking folks back to an earlier time. Dec. 10 and 11 was a railroad festival featuring rides on the popular North Pole Express as it is called during “the season,” and boarding the Florida East Coast Railroad engine.

In the Mayport Depot youngsters and oldsters enjoyed the model train layout created and operated by the Beaches Train Club. On Dec. 16, the sound of Christmas carols rang out in the courtyard and dancers from First Coast Dance, St. Paul’s Contemporary Choir, Rhythm Theory Dance Ensemble and Community Presbyterian Bell Choir entertained.

Newcomers luncheon

Newcomers of the First Coast gathered on Dec. 16 for a holiday luncheon at Queen’s Harbour Yacht and Country Club. The social group meets at various locations around the Beaches from Sawgrass Country Club to Atlantic Beach Country Club.

“We have 214 members and meet all over Jacksonville,” president Carol Wright said. Wright and her co-president Judy Ellis presided at the luncheon.

Ellis started things off on a humorous note by listing “gifts for the person who has everything … I’m always looking for something new to give my husband for Christmas. He’s the kind who buys whatever he wants whenever he wants it, so I’m left with few choices,” she said.

Her extensive list of unusual presents included “mail a face potato” from AnonymousPotato.com. For $19 you can upload your photo and the company will send a boxed real potato with a face to the recipient. On Amazon, you can buy a “jar of nothing” for $30. And if all else fails consider buying a Claxton fruitcake.

“I’ve heard rumors that this is the only one in existence; it keeps being re-gifted,” she said. The luncheon guests were then invited to join in a round of “We wish you a Merry Christmas.”

On a more serious note, Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry executive director Lori Richards spoke about how BEAM helps needy folks in the community. She used the example of a woman with three children who was being evicted and needed help. “Because of the generosity of our community that family has a place to live,” Richards said, adding that “single mothers are the largest demographic in our area.”

BEAM was formed in 1985 by 10 pastors in the Beaches Ministerial Alliance. Each had a little money in their budget for people in crisis. They came together to create BEAM, which helps with rent and utilities. BEAM has grown and now has a food pantry and “Grace garden” that grows 7,000 to 8,000 pounds of vegetables for the pantry. BEAM also has a food bank collecting surplus food from retailers who would otherwise discard it. Senior clients are provided with transportation, minor home repairs, grocery delivery and more.

“When we join hands and work together, we can make a significant difference in people’s lives,” Richards said.

Pet adoptions

S.A.F.E. (Saving Animals from Euthanasia) Pet Rescue of St. Augustine brought a little canine and feline joy to the Beaches Dec. 18 when the mobile adoption van visited the Ponte Vedra Pet Supermarket. It was an opportunity to adopt a furry four-legged bundle of love as a Christmas present and give a home to a homeless pet.

S.A.F.E. is a not-for-profit that focuses on rescuing adoptable dogs, puppies, cats and kittens scheduled to be euthanized at a kill shelter. Due to overcrowding, area shelters such as Jacksonville Humane Society, St. Johns Pet Center and Animal Care and Protective Services reach out for help in finding homes for some of their animals. S.A.F.E. provides shelter, food and medical care until a home is found. Four shelters care for about 180 dogs and 50 cats and are open for adoptions 365 days a year.

The festive event included music, a bake sale, hot cocoa, pet adoptions and a chance to have your photo taken with Santa and your newly adopted pet.

More than 15,000 animals have been rescued since S.A.F.E. was founded 10 years ago by Robin Nordan. The pets come from shelters and when a pet is surrendered after the owner passes away, such as pandemic owners who died from COVID. Some also come from animal hoarding cases and hurricane-stricken areas.

“We have a thorough vetting procedure to be sure that the pet is a good fit for the family and circumstance. They complete a two page questionnaire and provide a drivers license. We always need foster homes,” said volunteer Jean Gleason.

In addition to monetary donations, S.A.F.E. needs donations of quality dog and cat food, pet treats, leashes and collars, pet carriers, cat litter, towels, sheets, disinfectant, plastic garbage bags and more. For information about S.A.F.E. go to Safe-Pet-Rescue-fl.com.

Fantasy Farms holiday party

At a Fantasy Farms holiday party, Dr. Al Copland of Mayo Clinic was happy to receive a gift check for $45,000 plus an additional $10,000 from the Sawgrass SenioRITAs organization that is part of the all-volunteer RITA Foundation (Research Is The Answer).

SenioRITAs is a senior women’s tennis tournament and auction party that has been raising money to support breast cancer research and patient services at Mayo and Baptist Medical Center Beaches since 1999. A record $240,000 was raised In 2021. In addition to the $55,000 gifted to Mayo, the rest of the proceeds will be donated early this year to: Baptist Hospital Buddy Bus Mobile Mammography Unit; Baptist Beaches Imaging Center providing mammograms to the underserved; The LIFE Wellness Center at MD Anderson to help cancer patients on their journey; a Mayo Clinic Endowment honoring former Sawgrass Head tennis pro Chuck Saacke, and DigniCap system which minimizes hair loss from chemotherapy.

SenioRITAs is supported by local businesses, residents and sponsors. The top 2021 sponsors were Fields Auto Group, The Main Street America Insurance, bestbet, Truist Wealth Management, Morgan Stanley and Regency Centers. To learn more, go to www.the-rita-foundation.org/senioritas.

The final word ...

During the Victorian age, giving a gift expressed kindness, love, ingenuity and merriment. Folks spent time shopping for just the right thing that suited their friend, loved one or family member. Today, as during caveman times, men give generously to attract mates and/or keep mates (if they know what’s good for them). Women, on the other hand, are motivated by forming and maintaining social bonds.

Sadly in these modern times, the holiday seems to be more about getting than giving. On one hand, gifting has gotten oh so complicated. Instead of a baby doll or football, youngsters want the latest video game or an expensive piece of electronic equipment.

Even that is better than the “just give us gift cards or cash” wish the grown kids desire. Where is the thought, sentiment, ingenuity and joy in that? I try to keep in mind that it is not the gift, but the thought that counts, Or as comedian Joan Rivers said, “yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is God’s gift, that’s why we call it the present.”

Jackie Rooney is a freelance writer living in Ponte Vedra Beach. Contact her at rooneybin@comcast.net.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: THE ROONEY BIN: Let's all take a breather and get back to 'normal'