I work retail, and during the holidays? It's insane. I had just come home from working a 14 hour shift on 5 hours of sleep, and I was absolutely dead to the world. Or I was until my mother told me I had a package waiting.

You see, excitement over Secret Santa, waiting for my giftee to get her present and for mine to arrive? It's what has kept me going through the stressful days. Lurking r/secretsanta has kept a smile on my face when I am so exhausted I want to cry. Just getting that package already made my night.

And then, I opened it.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved games. Heck, the very first thing I ever bought (with hard earned tooth fairy money!) was a checkers set. I would make up games and convince my family to play them. I even tried making my own RPG when I was six! Something about dogs. Needless to say, that love of games continues now. Video games, tabletop games, card games, rpgs, I play all the ones I can get my hands on! But game creation, while something I'm still interested in, always seemed like this distant, impossible thing. Oh sure, other people did it. I follow Kickstarter games like crazy! But that wasn't for someone like me to do.

But sitting there in that envelope was this wonderful little book on Board Game Design. I was completely breathless. As I leafed through the pages, my smile just grew. I recognized so many of the games and designers mentioned, and there was even an article from the creator of my absolute favorite board game, Betrayal at House on the Hill. I have already read it cover to cover in the few days since I got it, and will probably read it many times more!

I don't know how my Santa knew, of all the things I said I liked, that this would be perfect for me. I know you said you wanted to do more, but you really hit this one out of the park, Santa! And there's even still one more package to come.

Thank you again, for making my Christmas special and for giving me a gift that tiny me would be proud to have.

EDIT

The other package arrived! And what should I find but promo Pokemon cards! Oh gosh, I remember when the film's came out and I saw them in theaters. Memories just came flooding back. Thank you for such a thoughtful surprise! I am just so touched by this whole thing.