SS via PM: “I think you are really going to enjoy my gift and I am excited for you to get it”. If only I knew what this secret stranger was up to.

Below my 2014 SecretSanta Christmas Adventure. It's a story with many letters. tldr is at the bottom of this post.

First I would like to thank the RedditGifts admins that managed the platform for-, and all the Secret Santa’s participating in this wicked exchange event. I couldn’t have experienced such an awesome Christmas Adventure without you! One I will remember many years after now!

It all started on November 2014 when I signed up for RedditGifts SecretSanta 2014. I’m not an Elf and matching was ready on December 1. It was this day when the first signs of ‘SecretSanta fever’ appeared. The fever got a more subtle grip on me as I was busy being a Secret Santa for my giftee. It wasn’t until December 14 until the fever started taking control of some major internal functions. This was the day I received the following PM from my SecretSanta:

Hey, just wanted you to know that I have not forgotten about you. I think you are really going to enjoy my gift and I am excited for you to get it. I will be sending your gift out tomorrow, so you should receive it in a couple weeks:)

The signal the fever was waiting for. It was already in my head and now it made me do things like acting like an 8 year old that gets excited about a present!

The next day I received a notification informing that my Secret Santa 2014 gift has shipped! It came with a tracking number so I immediately checked the package tracker to review the delivery progress. It was that moment I knew my Secret Santa was sending a gift from Georgia USA. I was able to take back some control from the fever because I knew it would still take a couple weeks before the gift arrives, as it was traveling from USA to The Netherlands.

This regained control lasted for exactly 1 day…I had shipped my own gift and every day I was impatiently watching for delivery progress updates. The fever was back and now in posture and full control. Then it was December 24, I just got back home after some serious shopping challenge in where I had to crawl through people to just get me some milk and bread. Suddenly the doorbell ringed and some off the thoughts that went through my mind where: ‘ow boy, is this the package I’m waiting for? Do I really receive it just before Christmas? Why am I behaving like a 8 year old? Open the door!’ And yes, there it was, the long awaited package with US Postal Service labels on it. It travelled a long way and it was love at first sight! I accepted the package with a huge smile and, without looking, quickly removed the customs form and folded it to be unfolded and reviewed only after all the unpacking is done. I then noted the stats, took some pictures of the box and placed it onto the table thinking ‘ I’m going to look at it, let this fever mess with my head, and open it tomorrow evening’. (I just love how this SS fever is messing with my head;)

When I got home the next day, it didn’t take long before I grabbed the scissors and started working on the package. ‘What is this gift my Secret Santa thinks I’m really going to enjoy’. When I opened the package I was able to take 1 picture, seconds later the fever had full control over my head and I was gasping for fresh air to overcome the impact from revealing all the contents of the package. I got knocked-out, by a total stranger, who used gifts and a handwritten letter. This stranger really wanted me to go KO as it contained 25 gifts!!! I was already KO after the 7th gift, and still had 18 gifts to go through! The fever was in full control and I needed 2 breaks before completing the whole unpacking progress. (partially to fully enjoy the moment;)

Today is 3 days after and I’m back on track, fully recovered and ready to share this Christmas adventure! The gifts I received represent national and local area, and the assorted candy/snacks. Just how I like it! I’ve attached a bunch of pictures to showcase and describe the gifts.

Below the complete list in a random order.

Antique vintage photo 1932 Lawson Army Airfield Baseball Team (located Ft Benning GA)

Baseball that will go with the photo

Old-Timer Pocket Knives Special 2014 Edition

American Boys Handy Book

Waterproof matches

Original Print Foto from a local folk artist in Georgia

Travel mug with ‘The 2nd Amendment’

Murica calendar

USA Flags

Camo Cabela’s

Camo summer-cap

Atlanta key-chain

Georgia Bulldogs napkins

Candy

Buffalo Steak Jerky

Butterfingers

Twix box

Snickers box

Rolo/Reeses/Kisses assortment mix

Skittles

Sixlets

Runts

Reese’s pieces

2x Taffy

Troli

Thank you Secret Santa. It was definitely worth the wait! ;) You’ve gifted me gifts that I can and will hold dear for many years to come, gifts which I can familiarize with positive energy for usage in my daily live, gifts with an awesome story! You’ve managed to entertain me, surprise me and overwhelm me. You’ve made my Christmas very special.

Take care my secret friend!

Some stats:

Package dimension: 30.5x30.5x30.5 cm = 12x12x12 inch = 1x1x1 ft

Package weight: 4.4 kg = 0.7 stone = 9.7 lbs

Package travel distance: 9000 km = 5600 mi

Package travel duration: 9 days = 216 hours

Package sent on: Monday, December 15, 2014

Package received on: Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Package opened on: Thursday, December 25, 2014 22:07

Package content: 25 gifts + 1 handwritten letter

Package content value: € = $

The look on my face when unpacking the package: Priceless!!

tldr: I got 25 gifts and a handwritten note from my awesome Secret Santa! By now I'm fully recovered from this wicked experience. ;)