So, there I was: longtime Reddit lurker, newish account holder, and a super excited participant in the 2013 Secret Santa! I braved the east coast snow and cold to search for the perfect gift for my own recipient, and then settled in to eagerly wait to for a surprise of my own to show up in the mail one day. And wait I did... and wait... and wait... and wait. Christmas came and went, and so did 2013, and it was obvious that whoever originally received my name did not, for whatever reason (who knows, things happen!), send anything my way. And you know, I like surprises -- I was really looking forward to this! So I'd be lying if I said I wasn't more than a little disappointed.

You know how the rest goes -- I still kind of wanted a Christmas surprise, so I opted to be rematched, and man was that a great decision! After a hectic couple of weeks of hometown holiday travel with family, I returned to my big city apartment to find a small pile of parcels from /u/Adaieo waiting for me! With a high pitched squeal of excitement (or two, or three...) I tore through the packages to find an assortment of absolutely lovely gifts! Clockwise from top left in the preview picture, you will see that Adaieo gifted me with 1. A single serve glass tea steeper; 2. An adorable (Japanese inspired?) kitty mug that is just plain cute when stored upside down, and which graciously holds your tea when right side up; 3. A copy of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" by Truman Capote (which I have never read but always wanted to read); and 4. A copy of "Buddha" by Deepak Chopra (whose works/ideas/writings are also on my "long list" to read!).

Basically, my Rematch Secret Santa, /u/Adaieo, really knocked my gift out of the park! In my profile, I had mentioned I was a tea and coffee drinker (I think I may have also mentioned I was big on reading), and I also said that I wanted my Secret Santa to share things that they loved with me so that I had a little window into their life and interests, too! (I think and hope that request is what influenced Adaieo's choice of books!). By giving me these things, Adaieo not only shared a little of herself, but (unknowingly) gifted me with a lovely little experience as well -- as I was gathering my gifts together to take pictures and making my breakfast at the same time, I realized I had the perfect setup to spend a slow morning eating delicious food, drinking delicious tea out of a cute mug, and reading a new book (I chose to begin with "Breakfast at Tiffany's" over "Buddha" because... well... breakfast!).

It was a wonderful morning, and these things will only continue to bring fun and joy to my life in the future. I consider this an amazing experience, and am so grateful that Adaieo offered to be a Rematch secret santa. Adaieo, you have made me so happy! Thank you so much!