It is that time of year for seasonal greetings, parties, and gifts.

In my family, we have a tradition of putting stockings on the hearth, filled with interesting, small gifts that are known as stocking stuffers. This tradition dates back to my childhood days, but we continue with it even now, decades later.

I tried to think of what could be useful and appropriate as a stocking stuffer for a myeloma patient and caregiver, and came up with the following ideas.

Books make ideal stocking stuffers because they come in handy when waiting for appointments, during chemo administration, and during and after a stem cell transplant when we may need a distraction or a means to kill time. And you can make the gift personal by choosing a book that you enjoyed.

A nice journal might be useful too. It can help keep events in chronological order, especially when a patient is dealing with chemo brain. For some, keeping a journal to write their thoughts and emotions out may be therapeutic.

A patient may also appreciate a set of ear phones that they could use for listening to music and podcasts, not only during walks, but also during chemo administration at the hospital.

Both the patient and the caregiver may benefit from small portable electric lights that operate on batteries. The patient can use them to read when battling dex-induced insomnia without waking the caregiver. They also can be used to enhance other lights when reading or working on crafts, which may be particularly useful during the dark winter months.

If someone you know is suffering from neuropathy, cozy socks and a nice cream, such as peppermint foot cream, may help. Running one’s feet over golf balls can also relieve neuropathy, so golf balls could also be a stocking stuffer. Spiky massage balls can also be used to ease neuropathy.

Moisturizing creams to combat dry skin, and special teas to help to keep warm and hydrated, would likely be appreciated by patient and caregiver alike.

Someone who has lost their hair due to having a stem cell transplant may appreciate a warm hat or a scarf to vary their outfit a little.

A session with a makeup artist, either as provided by a cancer support group, or at a makeup counter in a department store, can help with one’s self-image – especially right after the transplant!

I think that anyone who has a hobby or interest would appreciate something that relates to that.

For example, a music lover may appreciate a small instrument, such as a harmonica, or a new music book for the instrument or voice the person plays or sings.

A crafter may appreciate a small item to complement their hobby. For example, a stitcher or quilter might like a new quilting ruler, a knitter a set of special needles, a crafter who enjoys shop work a set of drill bits or a telescoping magnet to pick up dropped metal items.

For a sports lover, an item with their team logos, such as a hat or jersey, may be appreciated. For the athletic types, some accessory for their biking, running, or swimming may come in handy. For example, a cyclist may appreciate a new pair of biking gloves, a runner a new belt for holding small bottles of water or sports drink for long trips, a swimmer swim goggles with prescriptive lenses. Sports gels and energy bars are popular too.

For a movie lover, a subscription to an online streaming movie network can provide lots of in-home entertainment. Another benefit of the subscription is that the movie lover has a lower risk of catching colds or the flu, compared to going crowded places such as a movie theater.

In keeping with our family traditions, one item that always goes into our stocking first is an orange. An orange was a rare treat in the days of my parents and grandparents, since they do not grow here and were expensive then. It also fills out the toe of the stocking nicely, and since it separates into segments, can be thought of as a symbol of sharing.

What you are your favorite stocking stuffers?

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The quotation for this month is from by Maya Angelou (1928 - 2014), an American author, poet, and civil rights activist, who said: "When we give cheerfully, and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed."