Makin’ a List

Since last spring, Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina has been socking away gift-wrapped goodies. Johnny Grant, Hollywood’s honorary mayor, has already started stuffing envelopes with his holiday greenbacks. And “Star Trek’s” Mr. Sulu, a.k.a. George Takei, will beam himself to London for a spirited shopping spree.

‘Tis the season.

No matter which holiday you’ll observe--Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanzaa--the gift list looms.

So we checked in with several Southland notables to find out how they’re wrapping up the holidays by posing three questions:

* What is on your holiday shopping list?

* Are you shopping on the Internet?

* What is the most cherished holiday gift you’ve ever received?

The answers were sometimes poignant, sometimes funny--as yule (sorry) soon see.

*

Suzanna Guzman, opera diva and Los Angeles Opera associate artist

List: “On my list this year are the Southern California annual Disneyland passports for $79. I call them adventure gifts. Plus, this is a gift that mom isn’t going to have to clean up or step on in the dark.”

Cyber shopper? “I’m really into this thing about getting things online for people who live far away. So for my out-laws--my ex-in-laws who live in Pittsburgh--I’m getting a gift box of scented pine cones and little branches and stuff for $39. I’m putting everything on Diners Club or American Express and earning that extra airline mileage--and free gift wrapping.”

Cherished gift: “When I was in my 30s, I announced to my mom, sister and brother that I wanted a 12-days-of-Christmas gift. So each day during the 12 days before Christmas, they each put a happy memory about me in a bowl.

“On Christmas morning, I had 36 memories. In one, my brother recalled when I answered the door at 3 a.m. to find a naked guy saying, ‘I’m Tom Wacky, and I’m here with your water.’ The guy had escaped from an asylum up the hill. My brother started to go after him and my mother said, ‘Mijo [son], be careful--he might have a gun.’ And my brother goes, ‘Mom, think about it--he’s naked!’

“I still have those memories in a little jar. It’s a hard thing to see my mother’s writing because she has since passed away, but the memories are really delicious.”

*

Johnny Grant, honorary mayor of Hollywood

List: “I don’t really have a list because I don’t have the patience to shop anymore. Besides, I don’t have any idea of what people want, so I’m going to do what I’ve done the last 15 years: hand out envelopes with cash in them. I give them to waiters, the parking lot boys, friends, my family. It makes me feel like Santa Claus.”

Cyber shopping? “I love the Internet. I did, in fact, order a dozen copies of ‘White Christmas’ as gifts for a goodwill trip I made last month to Kosovo during Thanksgiving week. I gave the movies to recreation directors. I’m in ‘White Christmas.’ I play a TV talk show host.”

Cherished gift: “It’s a peach can that the U.S. Marines gave me during a USO goodwill visit I made to Beirut in 1982. They made me a mug with a washed-out peach can. For a handle, they attached a beer-can opener with some copper wire. And they wrote on it ‘To Johnny Grant, With Love, U.S. Marines, Beirut ’82.’ I cherish this gift. I keep it in my trophy case, and I have drunk coffee out of it.”

*

Pat Harvey, news anchor at KCAL-TV (Channel 9)

List: “For my daughter Michelle, 13, Guess clothes--and a busload wouldn’t be too much. Also, Nike shoes, shirts and shorts for both Michelle and my nephew, Kyle, who is 9. He’s also getting a Sega Dreamcast computer game. The George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine will go to my brother and his wife in Detroit. And for my other brother who graduated from med school, white shirts with French cuffs, which he can wear under his lab coat. For my closest girlfriend, pajamas and a robe. For co-workers: champagne, gourmet gift baskets, body lotions, creams and spa gift certificates.”

Cyber shopping? “My daughter will help me with that. She’s already ordered a couple of things, but I have to go to the stores in person because it puts me in the spirit.”

Cherished gift: “My daughter’s first Christmas ornament, which she made in kindergarten with her picture in the middle, a little glitter and surrounded with lace. We put it on the tree every year. It has a special meaning every time I look at it.”

*

George Takei, “Star Trek’s” Mr. Sulu

List: “I like to shop. On Tuesday, I’m going to London for 10 days, and all of my presents are going to be from there. I’m going to pick up some Scottish tartans, a lot of wool sweaters and hand-knit goods and biscuits and teas.”

Cyber shopping? “No, but I do have a Web site: https://www.georgetakei.com.”

Cherished gift: “As a kid, I grew up in interment camps during the war, 1942 to 1945. So the first Christmas we had in a home was in 1946 in East L.A. I remember that was the most magical Christmas because for the first time we had a tree with lights and presents underneath it. That also was the year my parents bought me a wonderful red wool sweater. My mother got it at Sears. It was very special. I still have it, boxed away in my mother’s garage.”

*

Gloria Molina, Los Angeles County supervisor

List: “I have nine younger brothers and sisters and their families, so I try to find one thing that everybody will enjoy. This year, for my sisters and sisters-in-law, I found these beautiful wooden storage boxes to hold photographs, at a great price. For my brothers, some nice sweaters I found on sale a couple of weeks ago. I got my husband done on QVC, and I already wrapped it. For my friends, I found nice little vases and frames, which are stored away in the garage. My mom, I already got an outfit and need one more gift. For my staff, that involves baking. Lots of goodies.”

Cyber shopping? “I love to look, but I’ve never bought anything. It makes me too nervous [to use my] credit card. I guess that’s truly window shopping.”

Cherished gift: “I must have been 7 or 8. I remember my father getting a crate of oranges, which was hard to get in the winter, and how wonderful that was and how everybody appreciated that. It reminded one of what Christmas is--family. The oranges are important and sort of symbolic of that.”

*

Bradley Bayou, couture designer

List: “My youngest daughter is a senior, so I’m making her a prom dress. The older daughter, a New Year’s eve dress. My niece, I did her wedding dress. My sister is her matron of honor so I did her dress as well. My mother, I’ll make her something for New Year’s. For other women, I’ll make sweaters and knits. I’m glad there’s all women in my life because I don’t have to run around in the stores. For everybody else, I design T-shirts and sign them. My father, he’s really tough to buy for, maybe something unusual like a game. Men at any age seem to like toys for Christmas, puzzles or mechanical things.”

Cyber shopping? “I’d love to shop on the Internet if someone would teach me. I may have to hire somebody.”

Cherished gift: “When I was 8 years old, I received a Marklin train set--made in Germany--which I’d always wanted. And there’s never been as good a Christmas before or after. I peaked early.”

*

Yvonne Chan, principal of Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, a Pacoima charter school

List: “I shop for myself first and then others. You work hard so also buy something for yourself. This year, I will get one of those massagers [that is] like a car seat that has heat. For my husband, Eugene, who is retired, the idea is to spend time together so I got a package to Las Vegas at the Luxor Hotel which includes a massage for me. My daughter-in-law, Kathy, is in Harvard getting a PhD in health management, so, being a struggling student, she will get $2,000. For my sons Christopher and Frank the same thing, which will be for investing in stocks that they have picked out. For my 1,250 students? Oh, boy, what can I do for them? Make sure we focus on teaching and learning and that they get all the books they need.”

Cyber shopping? “No, because I let my sons shop on there for the stocks. Why should I have to do it?”

Cherished gift: “I’m looking at it. My picture on a Wheaties cereal box. The community made it for me. They superimposed my picture on to the box and gave it to me last year. It reminds me that whatever you do, do it with energy.”

*

Jose Eber, hairstylist to the stars.

List: “I handpick every single gift and shop mainly on Rodeo Drive, so Christmas is expensive. I’ve finalized the list, and next Sunday and Monday I’ll do all day the shopping. I know I am going to buy Limoges--a small porcelain box with a small bottle of champagne inside and the year 2000. It’s a special limited edition. And pewter candle holders with scented candles that are shaped like apples and pears. I also do a lot of cashmere scarves, then the more extravagant gifts, such as jewelry, for key people in my life.”

Cyber shopping? “No way. I need to feel, touch and see the items, not just a photo. I don’t go on the computer.”

Cherished gift: “It was a beautiful pillowcase in the shape of a heart with an inscription dedicated to me that was very touching. It was given to me 15 years ago for my bed. I framed it.”