This was my first reddit Secret Santa, and I was super excited about participating. It's been a really hard year for me and my family and the thrill of an anonymous worldwide gift exchange came as a welcome distraction. I have not been disappointed!

First, I got a fun match as a Santee and sent off a present last week (fingers crossed that USPS hasn't lost it.) Then, I received a message from my Secret Santa on Saturday, giving me a heads up that my gift was in transit. This message was already a gift in and of itself, because I received it on a very bad morning. Instant cheer!

I suspect my SS slipped the USPS employee a $20 bill along with the package because my gift arrived today, just one business day later, in perfect condition! When my wife emailed me at work to tell me it arrived, I instantly polled r/secretsanta to help me decide whether to open it tonight or wait until Christmas.

As you can see from the pictures, I was given permission by the reddit gods to open my gift tonight. I eagerly tore the box open to find eight individually wrapped presents and a lovely handwritten note signed with a reddit alien, a narwhal, an upvote and a strip of bacon. (I had to explain to my wife that this was the reddit equivalent of flashing friendly gang signs.)

Judging by the shape and weight of the objects, I had a feeling I knew what I'd find underneath the wrapping paper...

CHOCOLATE! CHOCOLATE! MORE CHOCOLATE! CHOCOLATE EXPLOSION! -Lindt bars: Intense Mint, Intense Orange, Original Milk and Extra Creamy Milk -Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Toffee Explosion -One box each of Ferrero Rocher original AND dark -My personal favorite: A bag of Lindt Truffle balls

I don't know how my Secret Santa knew, or if s/he just guessed, but Lindt chocolate is my favorite! I used to buy one every week, but I stopped a few months ago because we're trying to save money every which way we can. My wife has absconded with the Ferrero Rocher.

And as an extra bonus, my son greatly enjoyed the box. Thanks, Anon Secret Santa, for a sweet holiday surprise!

ETA: What an awesome day...my Santee received her gift and posted about it within an hour of my post. Reddit Secret Santa 2011 FTW