TL;DR: I received a gift and I liked it.

Today appeared to be just another day at the office. Walked from my car to my apartment, thinking about all current active challenges, visualizing achievements and dreams, desperate for some food. This all ended in a blink when I opened my mailbox and this mysterious red package appeared.

I enjoyed a quick brain wave…'o boy, a package, so exited!’…’did I ordered something I forgot about?’, ‘did somebody send me a gift for my birthday a couple of days ago?’, ‘did I got a delayed valentines gift?’. Then I noticed the international shipment labels and I immediately transformed into a happy little kid, ‘t-shirt!, t-shirt!, t-shirt!, t-shirt!, t-shirt!, t-shirt!’ was all I could think of. I didn’t received the notification about a gift being shipped to me, but this must be a t-shirt! Who else than an awesome SecretSanta sends gifts to strangers?! Who else could I receive an international package from, than from a SecretSanta?! After a quick glimpse at the customs form, I realized my excitement about a t-shirt just got real. So I quickly grabbed the package, took a deep breath and tried to continue my routine pretending like nothing happened.

This didn’t last long as the excitement got a stronger grip on me and strangled me into urges until I couldn’t contain myself. After I got my hands all over the package and checked every clue that could reveal something of its content, I still only knew I could expect a t-shirt. I thought the drawing on the box represented an ovenmitten with a cloud, and that it came from an online store that sells t-shirts. So when I finally figured I had no idea what I was doing, I started unboxing the package to reveal its content. And then it happened, awesomeness filled the room the second this t-shirt appeared. It was love at first sight!

The t-shirt contains the same drawing as on the box, something that looks like an oven mitt with something weird above it (a cloud, a rabbit?). I had no idea what it represented. I don’t care (yet) because it looks cool and I love it! I quickly put it on to see if it fits, and it’s perfect!

‘The joy is almost unbearable, must do something I don’t enjoy’, so the worst part of the day was about to begin: I took a selfie to proof it fits! I tried looking stupid (demonstrated by me taking a selfie, and by me not standing still) and I used the potato camera from my phone. You can see me saying ‘I hate selfies’ and getting ready to hit myself in the face for creating one.

I figured there must be something behind the drawing. I then got on the internet and searched for ‘The Mitten State’. This search ended the second it started, as I immediately found out that The Mitten State represents Michigan and the drawings represent the state Michigan. (yes, I now feel a little stupid for not getting the reference that ‘The Mitten State’ actually refers to a state.) Knowing that this t-shirt represents the local area from my SecretSanta, I realized I’ve received the best t-shirt I could ever wish for!

Thank you SecretSanta! You’ve made this exchange unforgettable and enriched my wardrobe with this awesome t-shirt! Every time I wear it, it will remind me of this exchange experience!

I think you're awesome and I wish you all the best my secret friend!

Greetings from the Netherlands