I am not going to lie. The moment I got my first message from my Secret Santa, I knew I was going to be in for a treat. While at work, or at home, I kept checking redditgifts every day for any updates. Then finally, one day while cleaning the house. My girlfriend comes running up the stairs yelling... "BILL! THAT PACKAGE YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR IS HERE!" I did not expect what I was about to open, but I was into more than "a treat."

When I first opened the package, I was already astounded by the wrapping paper chosen for the presents. Cartoonish versions of Da Vinci sketches of different air ships. I held back my urge to rip open the wrapping paper and went for the note on top instead. I loved the drawing of the space ship on the front. On the back had everyone's favorite alien Snoo with the quote from Steven Hawking "To Confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit." As I opened the note, My Space Santa foresaw my actions and told me to go open the presents! I did not expect what was to come next.

My jaw dropped when I opened my first gift. A framed signed picture of Keir Dullea, the actor who played Dr. Dave Bowman (AKA the protagonist) of 2001: A Space Odyssey. I was left speechless. Though I never told my Secret Santa anything about my favorite movies, but 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of my all time top favorite movies by Stanley Kubrick (Clockwork Orange and The Shinning.) I almost forgot that there was one other present that I had to open due to my overwhelming excitement over the first gift.

The second gift I got was the book "Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13" by Jim Lovell & Jeffrey Kluger. I first chuckled to myself because I told my girlfriend that I really wanted to start reading books again AND NOW I CAN! I was wondering though... I wonder why this book. I remembered I never finished the note so I went back to continue.

In the note, My Santa explained to me the reasoning behind the book was because of one of my favorite games, Kerbal Space Program. With the struggles that I may face in Kerbal with trying to make it to the Mun or other planets reflects on the same trials that Jim Lovell faces on his Apollo 13 missions. My Santa also let me know that this specific copy of "Lost Moon" was signed by Astronaut Jim Lovell as well! (That was the moment when I almost shit myself)

With that said... words cannot express the overwhelming feelings I had when I received these gifts. I am incredibly thankful for what my Santa has giving me in this gift exchange! This was my first official gift exchange that I have ever done with redditgifts. I will cherish these gifts for the rest of my life and I cannot thank my Santa enough! I think the only thing I can do now is end this long thingy is with a quote.

"We are part of this universe; we are in this universe, but perhaps more important than both of those facts, is that the universe is in us." ~Neil deGrasse Tyson