So, this year's Christmas was, to put it lightly, not the best. First, I got shafted (they never even retrieved my information). Second, on the 21st, (we'd arrived in Seattle the evening before for a relaxing, fun 10-day vacation) just days before we were supposed to visit her for a big day-after-Christmas basher in Pasco, WA, my mother-in-law died. It was totally unexpected and unprepared for. So for Christmas, my wife (the oldest of 6 kids in her family) and I spent our time making burial arrangements and planning/hosting a funeral. Feels bad, man.

We got home to DC on the 31st, feeling worn out, sad and more than a little angry.

And then my rematch secret santa totally saved (as much as it could be saved anyway, given the circumstances) Christmas. My wife and I were both literally (literally literally, not figuratively literally) tearing up as we opened the gifts. But in a good way, not in the "my mom just died" way." More of an "I can't believe how kind some people can be for pretty much no reason at all" way.

My gifter started out with a longish, heartfelt, kind and funny note. In fact, the whole gift was rife with notes, though smaller ones. Each gift was wrapped individually and included a brief explanation.

She's Canadian and figured out that I also long to be Canadian (or at least honorarily, because BC is awesome). She also lost her father at Christmas time a few years ago, so she knew exactly what we needed. And when I say "we" I mean my entire family. She got stuff for me, my wife and both of my kids, as well as a bunch of stuff we can all share. She said she went the extra mile. I would say she went the extra league (maybe 2 or 3 leagues). Do they use leagues in Canada? I don't know. Maybe the book will tell me.

So let's get started with learning How to Be Canadian (hint: it involves a lot of maple syrup).

If you don't want to click through all the pictures, here's a handy list of everything that was included in the package (no commentary in the list, though. You'll have to look at the pictures for that (and trust me, it will totally be worth it))

1) Icewine 2) Beavertails (a Canadian specialty, similar in many respects to elephant ears) pancake kit.

3) An Ottawa Snowglobe 4) An Ottawa coffee mug (oops! no picture of this one!) 5) A TimBits Ornament 6) Maple Syrup 7) Chocolate covered maple syrup candies 8) Icewine chocolates 9) Newfie Chocolate sauce 10) Maple syrup shortbread 11) Two kids books 12) Maple syrup lollipops 13) A stuffed polar bear and beaver 14) How to Be Canadian - the Book 15) Toffee 16) A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich 17) A Picture of Dorian Gray 18) Marcus Aurelius - Meditations 19)Look and Feel Canadian Breath Spray 20) Homemade apple butter