This was my first Secret Santa, so like many I was nervous about what I would get and whether my own giftee would like what I got them. What drew me to this was not receiving a gift, but giving a gift and hearing about how much they loved it. Naturally, I expected that my Santa would want the same from me when I got my gift, although I feel I gave them the harder end of the deal.

You see, I don't have a lot of wants, since whatever I need I buy myself throughout the year. My needs are rather meager, as well, and I often don't go above and beyond to get myself stuff to decorate my apartment or my office. I am a rather private person in terms of what I like, so I often go for the practical when I shop. In fact, it wasn't until this year that I got any art for my apartment at all, and I still only had a single paperweight decorating my cube at the office.

My Santa must have known this somehow, or perhaps it was a lucky guess on their part. After all, there were plenty of pieces of merchandise that they could have gotten me, and they did a great job picking out what I needed.

That isn't even the best part of the story, though! I will admit, as the clock ticked down to the end of the exchange, I was rather nervous and wondered if my Santa was alright since I had not heard anything from them at all. However, I realize now that they were just waiting to have my present delivered at JUST the right time.

I had put in my profile that I was a fan of many different movie franchises and TV shows, among them being Star Wars, which I had gotten tickets for a 7PM showing Thursday night. When I got the email that my gift had shipped, I immediately went to check the tracking and saw it was being delivered that very same day! It came, and I waited, checking my phone and UPS while at work, just to see if it would be delivered before I had to leave to go see the movie, but it wasn't. To say I was excited was an understatement, but given it wasn't there, I left my work to go straight to the theater.

Less than half an hour into waiting for the movie to begin, I got a text telling me two packages had arrived. I knew what I would be doing after the movie, despite it being 10:30PM at night and usually waking up around 6AM. I had never been to a showing on opening day, and the experience was great so I was riding on that high. My Santa really had to deliver.

I got home to my apartment, and was greeted by two ThinkGeek boxes. I remember thinking to myself, "No, it couldn't be, the force doesn't really exist..." But, as I opened the package, my smile only widened as I realized Han was right, it does! What greeted me were Darth Vader & Storm Trooper hand towels, a new heat-changing Star Wars mug (showing off how beautiful the battle scenes in the new movie were as it got warm), C-3PO & R2D2 snack bowls, R2D2 and BB-8 magnets, and a Death Star cookie jar. The timing of this just couldn't have been more perfect!

Remember how I said I like practical stuff? Well, a lot of this was very much practical. I took the bus into work so that I could bring the cookie jar, mug, and magnets there. They now sit on my desk, the cookie jar handing out candy to those who visit while the magnets watch me drink hot chocolate out of the mug. The hand towels now reside in my kitchen, providing a replacement for the one that I should have gotten rid of a long time ago (it has a large hole in one of the edges). I will be using the snack bowls when I start my own D&D campaign at home (just waiting on getting a bigger table so I can fit everyone).

So, this long winded (overly so) post is just to say, "Thank you Santa! You made me believe in the Force and gave me some cool stuff to decorate my office and home with!"

Now, with that said, may the Force be with you all as well. And, for my own giftee (if they figure out who I am and see this), I will bid you all adieu.