Eventually, you get to the point of just asking what your significant other wants and getting it. One year, my wife told me that what she wanted most was sweat pants, and being the fool that I am, I fell into that trap.

I got her the best sweat pants money could buy. My wife has long legs, so she has a hard time finding pants with legs long enough to cover her ankles. So I searched and I found, and it was with triumph that I presented these sweatpants to the woman I love.

She seemed genuinely happy to have them, and I was happy that I could do so much for her.

Then her next gift came along, from her sister and her husband. His brother had died that year and had left a guitar he was refurbishing incomplete. They had the guitar finished and presented it to my wife for Christmas. Tears of joy and love streamed down her face as she softly cradled it and strummed its strings. It was a perfect gift.

However, it should be noted that I got her sweat pants.

I bring this all up not only because it is kind of funny, but because it illustrates something that gets forgotten a lot during the season. We may remember a special gift that someone gave us, but we remember and get more satisfaction in what we do for others.

Out there in the East Mountains and Estancia Valley are people who are doing just that this holiday season, and they all deserve a gift of their own. Trouble is, people who give have a tendency to take that satisfaction and keep it to themselves. Unlike the celebrities who only seem to give when the cameras are around, these everyday folks give because that's what you do.

Like El Comedor de Anayas in Moriarty.

For the past couple of years, Michaela Allen, manager and partner in the restaurant, has served Thanksgiving dinners. Tickets for the dinners are handed out to local churches, which, in turn, give them to needy families.

The restaurant also turns over its kitchens and dining room to the First Baptist Church in Moriarty so 400 free meals can be served at Christmas time.

And a group of volunteers from Edgewood will be serving meals at the Lions Club building in Moriarty for Christmas.

In Estancia, seven friends got together nearly a decade ago and decided they wanted to make sure needy kids got a toy at Christmas. The friends' love of motorcycles drew them together to start the Torrance County Toy Run.

In Edgewood, the students at Route 66 Elementary School are collecting food to be given to Bethel Community Storehouse.

In Tijeras, the San Antonito Women's Guild baked cookies and sold them to raise money to help people.

And there is much, much more going on out there, and it all has a common theme — giving.

We give because it makes us feel better. We give because we want to show we care. We give because that's just the way we are.

To all who give of themselves during the holiday season, a big thank you. You are the ones who make Christmas special.Contact Rory McClannahan 823-7102 or online at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .