AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Yes, that's me. Screaming and crying from excitement. Also possibly fainting. Have I died and gone to heaven? Because I can't believe this is real. Like, really real. Real life. It's not happening. Nope.

But I think it actually might be.

I've been a fan of Tolkien basically my whole life. The Hobbit was the first book I ever read. It sparked my love of reading and has always been my favorite book. My copy is falling part. Seriously, the cover is held on with tape. It's old and yellowing and I still love it.

So when this exchange came up, I jumped on it. I knew I had to participate and I would forever regret it if I didn't.

On these exchanges, I usually post a bunch of random things about myself and I love to see what information my gifter picks up on. The gifts are always fantastic and I love all of them. But this time I mentioned one more thing - that it's been a dream of mine for a very long time to own a copy of Sting. I've wanted one for so long but have never had an opportunity to get one for myself. So I asked for that in my likes. Any copy would do - a letter opener, a keychain, a pen, really anything. I just love how beautiful Sting is.

On Monday I got the email that my Tolkien gift had shipped. I stalked tracking like crazy and almost jumped out of bed this morning because I knew it should be here. When I saw it was delivered, I ran to my apartment's office, where all packages are stored. And nobody was there. WTF don't they know that I need this package now?! Angrily, I stomped back to my apartment and checked again in an hour. Still nobody. I'm about to scream.

Finally, I go back another hour later and someone is there! I almost jumped with joy. And then I saw the box. This was a big box. My eyes went wide and I hurriedly grabbed it and ran back to my apartment.

I took a deep breath. Calm. I needed calm. Can't have shaky hands when cutting open the box.

I pulled out a lovely wrapped gift and a box. And started unwrapping. The wrapped gift was a copy of The Hobbit!!! YES! When I go back for my yearly re-reading of The Hobbit, I won't have to worry about pages falling out! I can take this one with me and read it everywhere and all the time and love it so much again!! I'm excited. Like, really, really excited.

But then there's this other box. And it's big. Long and skinny. And I can't stop the bubble of excitement building in my chest. But there's no way. It's just not possible. Nobody could be that generous and awesome.

And I open it.

I pull out a handle. And see a scabbard. And something in me still refuses to believe this is actually happening. I almost convinced myself that this was an elaborate trick. A metal handle and a scabbard, but nothing else. There was no sword there. Because this can't be real.

Then I unsheathe.

And my jaw falls to the floor. My eyes get really wide and I don't know how I didn't actually faint. I came close.

It was STING!!!!

MY VERY OWN, FULL-SIZED, AMAZING STING!!!

Fuck, I still don't believe it. It's too beautiful and perfect.

It took me a long time to put it down and read the accompanying note. Apparently there was some trouble when ordering it and my AMAZING Santa ended up engraving it themselves. They apologized for it being messy. Are you kidding me?! It's beautiful and gorgeous and knowing that you hand-engraved it makes me love it even more. I didn't know that was possible.

Honestly, I can't even find words to describe the happiness that this gift has brought me. I know I've rambled on and on - I really just want to show what this gift means to me. I'm still in shock that I own it and that someone could be so amazing as to get and engrave this for me.

I love this gift. So much. Thank you. I know it doesn't cover it, but THANK YOU for this beautiful and thoughtful gift. Just, really... Thank You. You've blown me out of the water and I'm still crying happy tears.