Gift giving seems to have changed since the arrival of the pandemic — not to something new but back to the way it used to be. When I was sewing face masks for friends, in early 2020 (remember how hard they were to find online?), homemade cookies, or a roll of toilet paper in a gift bag would appear on my doorstep as a thank you. It was so nice!

And lately, I’ve been coming home to find lemons and grapefruit on my front porch, from a neighbor’s garden.

It seems that the global slow-down we’re all experiencing has raised the thought level that goes into gift giving, and lowered the need for it to appear expensive, or impressive.

I’m guessing this is how it was in our parent’s day and probably how it still is in small towns far from Los Angeles and New York. 

We all know “it’s the thought that counts.” I’m learning that the giver gets more from a simple, thoughtful gift as well. It feels less transactional and more like a true connection.

I was lucky enough to get my first shot of the COVID vaccine this week (for health reasons), and followed a friend’s lead in bringing a small treat for my vaccinators. The delight that my three dollar chocolate bars, tied with some recycled ribbon, brought, was priceless, and hopefully these frontline workers, standing for long days in the parking lot at Dodger Stadium in all kinds of weather, felt appreciated for their part in the massive effort to protect our population from the ravages of the deadly virus that’s been stalking us for the past year.

My mother used to keep a gift drawer filled with things like crisp new kitchen towels, scented candles and soaps. I love this idea, as well as recycling wrapping paper, tissue, and ribbon, and keeping a stock of greeting cards (or making your own). It makes it easy to cheer up a sick friend, or bring a thoughtful hostess gift the next time you go out for a safe backyard catch up.

I put together this Get Well Soon bag for a sweet neighbor of mine today, filling it with fresh fruit, flowers, and a small aromatherapy candle. It looked even nicer wrapped in colorful tissue and ribbon and placed in a gift bag (recycled of course!). It gave me as much happiness, planning it and putting it together as it did the receiver.