oh. my. gosh. words cannot describe the joy that filled me when i opened this massive box...after fiascos with a broken doorbell yesterday and a closed road near the UPS facility, i finally made contact with my gift this morning. i could barely make it back home before opening it up. Erin (username unknown) had been messaging me to get to know me and i told her about how i was moving to a new city go back to school and loved music...she asked about how i listened to music and i let her know that i was a little scared of records after a mishap with my brother's player when i was a kid. well, she chose PERFECTLY. i just moved into my apartment last week and its felt a little lonely, being 500 miles from my friends and family, and honestly, this makes me so happy that i'm actually shaking. as a first time redditgifts participant, this is the kind of thing that restores my faith in how awesome people can really be. My gift included a Sony turntable, the Decemberists Crane Wife album and the Head and The Heart self-titled album, with explanations about why she picked each. I am going to run out to get some necessary cables, but rest assured, my weekend/life will now be filled with music and record shopping.

Erin, you're my hero. If you're ever in Pittsburgh, let me know. We can listen to some music. :) this is the best gift i've ever received. thank you, thank you, thank you.