EDIT: Usually I like to put my edits at the end, but I figure it makes more sense to put this up front, my Santa reached out to me and said I can add more of the note that I have referenced, so I am adding them in with an 'EDIT' before so you know that I added that.

Let me start from the beginning. Within one of the first days of my Santa pulling my name, he sent me Reddit Gold alongside an amazing note. Telling me there were a couple more surprises, this lead to a building anticipation where when I saw my gift was shipped two days ago I watched the package being tracked. I rushed to get home today knowing it would he here.

Well, I just opened it up and it was the most beautiful thing. He wrote me a note ( which until I get permission from him I will only post excerpts as it is slightly personal, I hope he is willing for it to be shared because it's awesome). This was the first thing I opened and it described the rationale of the gift. To give you all some background I had mentioned I wanted to actually know a bit about my Santa. I did not realize what this would mean. But inside he explained his rationale on the medal, and I will let you read that as I can't do it justice. This medal is something that I will hold close to me but also, Santa, if ever and I mean ever want it back I will gladly send it as I know it was a tough decision for you. What you did and the thought is amazing and I would be just as impressed even if you asked for it back. So please don't hesitate. I am already humbled by your note but to have a medal for completing a marathon is beyond words. You are so kind and I think this summer I am going to start training for a marathon because I dunno, of you. You're awesome.

Not only did this man give me a role model of someone to look up to in many aspects but he also gave me a Stylophone. I may post videos later on. Thank you sooo much.

I just needed to type up my initial reactions but I have to go to the job I've been working at since I was 14 (Santa will understand why I put this) now and don't have time but I will finish this post later on.

After the initial emotion wore off through work and what not, here are some excerpts. I would love to share the first paragraph, but I will wait for Santa to give me the okay. [Santa gave me okay]

This is part of the letter he sent, with the first part redacted unless he tells otherwise.

In this note he wrote:

EDIT: "Hey. A little bit about me...I'm a 39 year old, divorced father to a six year old girl. At 19 (took a year off after graduation) I moved to to college. I was there [in the college's city] for about ten years, and spent most of that time in school. I wasn't really sure waht I wanted to do, so I took lots of classes I liked, but they didn't all work well toward my major. I'd wanted to be a teacher since middle school, but didn't know what to teach. After almost six years, I got tired of being in school, and French was the quickest thing to graduate with, so French it was. I then took a couple of years off while working in a bike shop (which I'd done since I was 13) and tried to figure out what to do with French (teach it?). I finally went back to college for a couple of years and got licensed to teach elementary school, not French. I love kids. I loved teaching. But truly, it just wasn't for me. My (now ex) wife and I spent most of a year teaching in South Korea and that kind of put a bad taste in my mouth simply because the school where we worked was horrible. When I got back to the States I decided to volunteer in schools, but not make a career in them. I'm back at the bike shop where I started at 13 years old. I don't make a lot of money, but I don't need a lot of money either. I'm comfortable, have what I want, am able to support an amazing little girl, and most importantly, I'm happy."

"So, about your gift. Obviously, the Stylophone is all about you. It looked like something cool you could probably use to make some interesting music. And with your interest in both electronics and music, it seemed even more fitting. I hope you enjoy it as much as I think you will."

It was at this point where I was like, need some instrument that has so much style/swag that they put that in the name...he continues the note:

"The medal is all about me. And I have to admit, it was tough to decide whether I should give it up, these medals are important symbols of my accomplishments, but I think it's very fitting for this gift. And I think you in particular will be able to really appreciate it. It's about me because I'm Cherokee Indian. It's from a race in Tulsa, on Route 66. It's about me because I'm a runner, and you get these things for every big race you finish."

At this point I was starting to feel bad, this stranger, had given me a prized possession. It was something I had not expected, I had yet to look into the box, as I was realizing that this was going to be a lot more powerful than I had ever imagined. His note continues:

"But it's also about me in a deeper way. Last year I ran my first marathon, 26.2 miles. I've been running pretty seriously for about 2 1/2 years. It turns out it's something I'm fairly decent at. I won't ever be an elite level runner, but I do well at the local races. The marathon was something I didn't know if I could do. Or at least something I didn't know if I could do well. I did. I ran my first marathon in a time that many people would never even dream of achieving (though again, far from the eite level). And so the point of that, for you, is don't be scared of trying. You're obviously a smart guy, as I was (am?). I think when I was young I got told so much that I was smart and could do anything, etc. that I became scared of failure. I didn't do a lot of things I could have because I didn't want to try and then fail. I'm finally learning that even though I may not be the best, I'm pretty good when I try. And I'm happy, happy for having tried. And in some things I will fail, but that's ok too."

This was about the point where I started tearing up ever so slightly, here was where I truly started to fully believe what I was reading, that this stranger, whom has never talked to me, and I've never talked to or known, or even heard of from a place that I've never heard of, cared for me enough to not only give me something near and dear to his heart and accomplishments but also he gave me some advice and inspirational words. He continues:

"I hope the medal will give you even more motivation to try. And when you fail, you'll try again. You obviously have a lot of potential, and I'd love to see what happens when you use it. And don't think I'm saying that you wouldn't use that potential without my motivation, because I think you would. But maybe my story and this gift will help even more."

Here is about where I read up to, the feels got to me. I didn't realize this last sentence was there until just now, 6 hours after initially opening up.

"Enjoy these gifts my new friend. You're right, the internet and the connections we make can be a beautiful thing. I hope I've contributed positively to that."

You got that right.

But again thank you so much Santa. You made my week, possibly even month. And that means a lot because this is one of those weeks that everyone my age has as a huge milestone.

And Santa, I would love to be your friend, you have my Reddit account, feel free to send me a message.