THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412270256
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 447 lines
Cash registers may be ringing in the Christmas season across Hampton Roads, but when people recalled the best gifts they had ever received, none of those presents could be bought. The gifts we treasure come from the hearts and imaginations of loved ones.
The newspaper's mailbag overflowed! At least 250 people submitted entries for our essay contest. Each story had its own beauty and magic.
A six-year-old drew us Crayola pictures of himself and his Dad, playing Nintendo. A short, penciled letter explained: ``He is my best buddy. He always gives me things to make me happy.''
A mother wrote about her 3-year-old son's gift of a ``two-pound, beige rock,'' which taught her to ``see beauty in simple things.''
We heard about babies born on Christmas, whose arrival captured for their parents the joy of the birth in Bethlehem. Some wrote of illness and surprising recovery, which seemed touched by the mysterious spirit of Christmas. Many recalled loved ones who had died, leaving behind echoes of laughter and kindness to brighten the holiday season.
``I embrace each dawn. I sing spontaneously,'' wrote one woman, who recently awoke to a new spiritual understanding. ``Miracles happen today!''
There's a lesson here for all of us. The best gifts celebrate love and hope that bring us together as friends, families and a community. We all have something to give.
Perhaps, as you read these stories of wonderful gifts, you will be inspired to share a story of your own with those closest to you.
- ESTHER DISKIN
Kid winners
1st place
Josh Crawford, aged 10 (with his mother, Arleen), Virginia Beach
Some people think Christmas is a time when you put up lights, trees, and get a lot of presents. But Christmas is really a holiday celebrating when Christ was born. Giving and sharing. On Christmas of '91, I'd say what I gave was the best present I ever got. I got my mother a necklace. It wasn't an expensive gift, but my mother loved it. It had a cross with clear glass inside it. When she got it she was so happy. Because she was happy is the reason why it was the best gift I ever got. Now she wears it all the time. She told me, ``It's the thought that counts.''
Josh Crawford's $100 prize will be used to purchase supplies for his class at Centerville Elementary.
2nd place
Adam Wesley Lane, age 16
South Mills, N.C.
Sometimes a person does not realize when the best Christmas is or what the best Christmas gift is until it is a memory. That is the case with me. The best Christmas gift I ever received was having my brother, Nathan, with us. He is not going to be here this year, and I already know this is going to be the worst Christmas I have ever had.
Nathan died November 29, 1994. Ever since he went away, I have listened to his music and looked at his things and remembered what it was like to have him around. Christmas was always the best, because he would get so excited, even after he grew up and went away to college. He loved to give presents. He thought Christmas gifts should be fun gifts and not practical gifts. My parents always gave us a special gift, and they would hide it and give us clues until we found the present. Nathan always loved that.
So my favorite gift at Christmas was my brother, Nathan. All we have now are the memories of him from all the Christmases of the past. This year will be hard and lonely, but at least we can remember the times when he was here.
Adam Lane's $50 prize will be used to purchase books for the Nathan Lane Memorial Fund at Camden County High School.
Adult winners
1st place
Becky Moye
Virginia Beach
When my son, Neal, was 8 years old (1965), he had made me a gift at school and at Cub Scouts. But he still wanted another special present for me.
My husband had sprained his ankle officiating a basketball game and had to remain in bed through Christmas Day, so he could not take Neal shopping.
I explained to Neal that the gifts he had made for me meant more to me than anything he could buy.
I was surprised to find on Christmas Day a large pretty box with my name on it from Neal. When I opened the box, it was empty. I said, ``Neal, this box is empty.'' He said, ``No, it isn't. It's filled with love, and I had a hard time getting it all in there.'' No gift could be more special than LOVE.
Becky Moye's $100 prize will be used to buy a gift for her son who gave her the empty box.
2nd place
Betty C. Whitehurst
Virginia Beach
Christmas 1958 in the village of Baguanos, in eastern Cuba, promised to be a bleak time. Because of Fidel Castro's revolution, all roads in our area were blockaded by rebel soldiers and no travel was permitted.
There were vegetable gardens and an abundance of fruit trees, so we were not in danger of starving. But after almost three months of isolation, there was no rice and very little meat.
We did have plenty of sugar, as Baguanos was a sugar mill town. So my housemates and I decided we would make orange marmalade for all our friends.
As we set out delivering our gifts, we discovered that everyone else had the same idea, so we merrily exchanged our homemade marmalade with one another. The Christmas Eve service at the Methodist church where I was serving as a missionary was held at 5 p.m. rather than the traditional 11:00 p.m., because of a curfew imposed by the army, loyal to dictator Fulgencio Batista, which was still in control of the town.
When the service was over and the members of our household had begun preparing our Christmas Eve dinner, there was a knock on the door. We opened it to find one of the Aguilera children, who lived a block away, with a large platter of steaming hot rice and pork. They had been saving the last of their rice so their family could have a special Christmas dinner - and had brought some to us! Never again have I had a gift so special, for the Aguileras had no way of knowing when they would again be able to offer rice to their 11 children and yet were willing to share it. I can think of no better example of the true spirit of Christmas.
Betty Whitehurst's $50 prize will be used to help pay for a Methodist church construction project in Cuba.
Honorable mention
D. Zerbian
Va. Beach
The most unromantic gift I ever received from my husband was a wallpapering kit. My feelings were very hurt, but that wasn't the end of it. We went shopping for $600 worth of wallpaper, and he immediately left for 3 months of sea duty.
I had a friend who knew how to wallpaper, and she was going to help me in exchange for a portable dishwasher I was no longer using. We spent 6 weeks of long agonizing hours of work before we were finished. The magnificent transformation of my house, the look of sheer delight and approval on my husband's face, not to mention learning a new skill, made it a very precious gift in the long run, because it's still giving. I've taught all my children and their spouses how to wallpaper through the years.
Honorable mention
Judith U. Barclay
Virginia Beach
We had a rare pre-Christmas blizzard in eastern North Carolina when I was 14. School was out due to the storm, but Mom never arrived home from work in town. Dad and my brother left on the tractor to see if she was stranded, leaving me alone. It got later; the snow kept falling; no one returned. After midnight, I heard muffled steps outside and opened the door to find my father, nearly frozen, standing there. I learned that he had located Mom but had to leave her, my brother and the tractor at a farmhouse. Dad had trudged the five miles home in the storm to make sure I was OK.
Years later, my father apologized for not telling me he loved me. I told him I had known since that night. I don't remember what was under the tree that year, but I had the gift of my father's love.
Larry Hollowell
Norfolk
The greatest gift I ever received was when I spent Christmas in New York City.
I was walking up the stairs in the subway. I was singing a song. I was enjoying the way the sound reverberated off of the tiles on the walls. Suddenly, I was approached by a young man of Hispanic origin. ``Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot sing. Never let anyone tell you to stop singing,'' he told me. It was only a 10-second encounter. He went his way, I went mine.
The gift that he gave me that day, was the gift of self-confidence and self-esteem. No matter what happens to me in this life, and no matter how discouraged I become, I know that there is a young Hispanic man in New York City who would encourage me to pursue my dreams. That 10 seconds of encouragement has allowed me to stand firm in a shaky world. It was the greatest Christmas gift I ever received.
Teresa Birckhead
Suffolk
The Christmas when my son was 3, he slowly poked his head around the front door with his hands behind his back. ``Mama! I've got something really beautiful for you! Can I give it to you now?'' he asked. My husband winked approvingly. My son brought his beautiful gift to the front to show a large 2- pound beige rock he had found just for me. ``I knew you would want to have this to look at everyday,'' he exclaimed proudly.
Since that year, I have slowed down at Christmas and have enjoyed giving and receiving without goals and expectations. I had taught my son to observe and appreciate what God has given us and he had taught me to see beauty in simple things, especially at Christmas. My growing gift rock collection reminds me at Christmas that God gave me much more than his son. He's given me everything!
Joan and John B. Moore
Portsmouth
A decade ago, we were adjusting to our new lifestyle as empty-nesters and thinking of adult offspring in faraway places. A cold gray Christmas afternoon foretold an evening of sleet and snow. We were on our way to a candlelight open house in Olde Towne. To access Interstate 264, motorists drive through a bleak industrial area. Any expressway interchange is a lonely and frightening landscape for pedestrians. What then to our wondering eyes should appear but a young couple with a babe in arms. The woman was in stocking feet, her pumps no match for an unpaved pathway. Our U-turn brought us together. Their old car had given out in an unfamiliar area. They were miles from their family and would phone for help at some business on the boulevard. A joyous journey for us was to share a ride with those young people. Family members were relieved by a late but safe arrival. Their gratitude in no way compared with the glowing Yuletide spirit which we carried away with us that Christmas afternoon! 'Twas a real gift!
Marion G. Leudesdorff
Virginia Beach
When I think back now, it seems so very long ago, and yet, at times, it seems only like yesterday - Christmas during World War II in Germany. I was a very little girl, but certainly old enough to understand many things that happened - things I did not like and things I was afraid of almost day and night. I remember Christmas of 1942 quite well. It was one of the best Christmases I ever had during the years of the war.
It was cold and the time before Christmas really was not very different from the other times. We had hardly anything to eat, no electricity, nothing to burn a fire with, few clothes to wear. Whatever I had to wear were mostly hand-me-downs from my older sister. My biggest wish for Christmas was a pair of shoes, but I wanted a pair of new shoes, my very own size, not a pair that my sister had worn before. Although I believed in Santa Claus, I never believed in getting new shoes.
Well, here was Christmas, December 24, the day we receive gifts in Germany. We had a tree with lights and ornaments, our living room was heated and my mother somehow had managed to bake cakes and cookies. Oh, what a beautiful Christmas this was, a cozy warm living room and a beautiful wrapped box with my name under the Christmas tree. I could hardly wait to open it, but it is customary first to stand under the Christmas tree and recite a Christmas poem. My sister was first because she was the oldest, I was second and my brother last. My youngest brother was only 2 years old and was sitting on the sofa watching us. And then the moment came . . . I was allowed to open my gift! I could not believe my eyes. I had received a pair of new shoes, all leather, the color of a light coffee brown and a beige leather band stitched on the outside of the shoes. My mother asked me to put them on, but I refused. I simply stood there and held them, touching them and smelling the clean, new leather. It was magic to me!
It took me a long time before I ever did put on my new shoes to go outside and actually walk in them. Whenever I did not wear them, they were standing on the shoe shelf, neat and clean. Sadly to say, my beautiful shoes were destroyed when our house was burned down. I remember that I wanted to run back into the burning house to get my shoes, but my mother held me back. I had to run for my life - barefoot, out into the night.
Beth Evans
Windsor
Christmas was meager the year my daughter was 10 and my son was 5. We had no tree, but I hung our stockings from a window sill.
On Christmas Day they pleaded, ``Let's go see Nanny!'' I told them we couldn't; I didn't have money for gas.
Suddenly my daughter told me to stay in my room until they called me. After much scurrying and whispering, they shouted, ``Come look in your stocking, Mama!''
Reaching inside, I felt paper and coins. As I turned the stocking upside down, money spilled out onto the carpet and I realized they had robbed their piggy banks.
Their faces beamed as they said, ``Now we can go see Nanny!'' I echoed those words through laughter and tears as I hugged them and thanked God that they knew what the spirit of Christmas was all about.
Jean Vance
Virginia Beach
As I remember, it was December 24th, 1966. There wasn't going to be much of a Christmas for my five children, all under the age of 13. Their father had been drinking steady for a week. He told the children there wasn't any Santa Claus and this year he would prove it. No presents except for the things his mother had sent over. I was working part time and bought a few little things for their stockings. The older children tried to console me and said not to worry, that things would be all right. As I was filling the stockings there was a knock on the door. When I opened it no one was there but a large plastic bag. I opened it to find gifts for the children. A large doll for my youngest girl, trucks and soldiers for the boys and sweaters for the older girls. There were a few other things too. My oldest daughter said ``Mom, there really is a Santa Claus.'' My children are grown now but every year they remember that Christmas. I didn't find out who dropped them off for several years. It was my best friend.
Alan Price
Virginia Beach
As a boy, my father always had a fascination with the stars in the sky. Having grown up in a rural family of very limited means, his dream of owning his own telescope never became a reality until one special Christmas 20 years ago!
As we sat around the tree, everything opened and in complete disarray, my mom quietly walked back to her bedroom and returned with a specially wrapped package and handed it to Dad. My father was not one to ever show any emotion, but as he slowly unwrapped the present and realized what it was, he was overcome, for the first time in his life, my dad cried like a baby. It was his telescope!
Dad died of a massive stroke in 1988 at the age of just 54. I still believe he's using that telescope to watch over us all from Heaven.
Merry Christmas Dad - we all miss you greatly. The Price family.
Joseph McCoy
South Mills, N.C.
The most memorable Christmas was when I was about 9 or 10 years old. I was always being told that I was too young to go hunting with my father. So I asked for a gun so I could just go hunting. I was hoping and praying that I would get a shotgun. That morning when I woke up I looked under the Christmas tree, but I didn't see any gun. My parents told me that maybe Santa Claus forgot.
Later on that day, about 2 p.m., there was a knock on the door. When I answered, it was a man dressed in a Santa Claus suit with my shotgun. That was my most memorable Christmas.
Honorable mention
Barbie Hemm
South Mills, N.C.
age 16
The best gift I have received was not a Christmas gift wrapped up in a pretty bow. It was a hug from someone I really cared about when I needed it most. This happened about eight years ago when my real dad died. My mother was more supportive for me than anyone else I knew. When my mother told me the bad news, she held me until I stopped crying. To me that just proves that a mother's love is greater than any love in the world. My mother has been very supportive for me in many times of trouble, but I don't think I have ever thanked her for them. I do not know what I would do without my mother.
Honorable mention
Natasha Gordon
Virginia Beach
My best Christmas gift ever was when my parents told me the true story about my grandmother's death. Some people's favorite Christmas might have been when someone came to visit them. Someone else's might have been something they had wanted and finally got. Gifts can come in many different shapes and sizes. They can also be physical, emotional or even verbal.
I received my gift from my parents. On this particular Christmas I received a lot of gifts which I liked, but one gift was the most meaningful. My family was all together and happy, but I became the happiest when I received my gift. I'm not sure what made my parents give me this gift, or if they are even aware that this was a gift to me. I think it just happened because we were all talking.
My gift had a lot to do with my grandmother, and how she died. I never told my parents, but I always thought that her death was my fault, mainly because I was the last person to be with her. The entire day before her death we were spending time together, just us all alone. Over the years my parents would tell me this over and over again, not realizing they were tearing me apart, because I thought I had done something to bring on her death.
On this particular Christmas we were talking about my grandmother and about how I was so special to her. My parents started telling me about her attitude towards me and how I was the apple of her eye. When I was told this I felt very special. My family said that it was as if my grandmother knew it was her night to go. My parents told me that my grandmother wanted to do everything she could with me and let me know how special I was to her. They said when she died she had a smile on her face. This is what made me the happiest, because it seemed as if she had accomplished all that she had wished.
My gift was a gift no amount of money could ever buy. This gift was emotional and spiritual. What made it so special was that it took away pain that I don't think any other gift could have achieved, and that is why it was my best gift ever.
Amber Bailey
Virginia Beach
age 9
The best gifts I ever received were my family, food, shelter and clothing. I have these things because of my parents. When the holidays come and I hear about people who don't have these things, I realize how lucky I am. Someday I hope to build a building that's open 24 hours a day so homeless people can get clothing, food and can live here. They can even get doctor treatment. I think this is the best gift I ever received because I need food and shelter to live longer, and I think a family is important. If I work up to my goal, the homeless people won't be homeless anymore. I hope I achieve this goal.
Aaron Jaggers
Chesapeake
age 11
I have got a lot of good gifts from my parents and my grandparents but the gift that meant the most to me was the present my sister gave me last Christmas. It was not a big present. It was not worth money. I just kept it because it was from the heart. All it was was a soccer ball in a cube. I don't like soccer but it came from my sister and my mom didn't tell her to get it. That is my favorite holiday gift.
Stephanie Johnston
Virginia Beach
age 11
All of my Christmases have been great, but the Christmas of 1993 was the best that I can remember. The best Christmas present I received that year was my hamsters. These were the first hamsters I ever received. As I watched them crawl around in their cage I came up with two dazzling names. Their names were Fluffy and Rocky. Right away they buried food and jumped off their red house. These hamsters were wild as they climbed up my shoulder and down my back. The food they ate was incredible! Sunflower seeds, peanuts and cracker crumbs. At night I could hear them fighting with each other and chugging down water from their water bottle. Also at night as I closed my eyes I thought to myself: This is the best Christmas present ever!
Laurie Carpenter
Virginia Beach
age 13
Everyone thinks the best gift at Christmas is something material. That's nice, but it's not the best you can receive for Christmas.
Here in Virginia Beach, most people spend Christmas waiting for bedtime so they can go to sleep and get presents in the morning, but there's no snow.
Christmas is a time for love, friendship and the spirit of giving without receiving anything in return but a thank you and a look in the person's eyes full of happiness. It's also the time of year that other areas get snow but us.
Last year it snowed on Christmas - of course, I was in Manassas, Virginia. I could do without the presents every year. As long as I get snow, I'll be happy. I don't go outside in the snow. It's too beautiful.
Material possessions are nice, but for me, snow was truly the best gift I ever received.
Nikki Rankin
Virginia Beach
age 13
The best gift I ever received for Christmas came two weeks after the holiday last year. I was 12 years old and we were living at Naval Station New York on Staten Island. I was a Red Cross trained baby sitter and had the newspaper route on the base. It was a small route, but I managed to save five hundred dollars between both jobs. With that money I was able to buy a van full of toys, shoes and clothes for the Battered Women Shelter. The gift I am writing about is the one they sent me. It was a letter from these women and children letting me know how grateful they were, and how happy their children were. My mother framed the letter for me, because I told her how happy I was to receive such a wonderful gift.
Jennifer Raybuck
Franklin
age 12
The best gift I ever got I received the year before last. I went to my grandparents' house because my grandfather has cancer and has to stay in bed a lot. It was special because we thought that that would be his last Christmas, but it wasn't. He even went outside Christmas morning when it snowed. I'm glad we went that Christmas because that was the last time we would be able to talk to him and laugh with him because now he has to stay in the bed all the time. That Christmas I realized how much he meant to me and how much he meant to my father who I know prays for him every night and day and my grandfather is still here, and that's the best gift I have ever gotten.
Glenn Wright
Shiloh, N.C.
age 17
My story is about a stone that was given to me by a good friend of mine. She and I had decided to walk on the beach that Christmas Eve night. While we were walking we both tripped and fell. While we were lying on the sand I saw her pick something up, close her eyes, and put it in her pocket. Dumbfounded, I asked her what she had just done. She explained to me the story behind the wishing stone. After that I felt her hand in my pocket. I figured she was just cold so I didn't pay it any mind. Later on that night I reached into my pocket to get my change out and I found the wishing stone. We don't see each other much anymore but I still keep the stone in my pocket.
Kirstin Winchester
Chesapeake
age 12
Four years ago I got my best Christmas gift ever. It was the year 1990 when my whole family was together. That was our last Christmas together as a family. We woke up early to open presents. That wasn't when I got my present. I got it right after dinner. My dad pulled out a medium sized box. I started to open it and it moved. When it was opened all the way it was a cardboard box. I took the lid off and it was a baby duck. I named her Aussie because we had just gotten back from Australia a year and a half before. Every time I looked at the little duck I think of my Dad. That was the best Christmas gift ever. ILLUSTRATION: SAM HUNDLEY/Staff
Color photos
PETER D. SUNDBERG
Color photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK
JANET SHAUGHNESSY/Staff
by CNB