This is what I got from my Australian Secret Santa. I don’t know his or her username but hopefully they’ll see this. It’s a clay figure, a vinyl disc of Lennon’s “We all Shine on” (along with a copy burned on cd) and an Australian silver dollar. Plus there’s a card. This is what it says:

Greetings, fellow Redditor!

I enclose a few gifts for you as your profile was a bit ‘vague’. So I had to improvise and hope for the best.

My first gift (aptly labeled “1”) is a somewhat ugly little figure I picked up while in Cuzco, Peru. But appearances can be deceiving. This is a symbol of good luck and prosperity. But it only works if it’s freely given, no bought. So now it’s yours.

The second one “2” is my way of giving you an ‘upvote’. It’s one of my favorite songs and it always cheers me up.

Finally, number “3” was bought on impulse. But it’s a good gift as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. It also works as a good sign of friendship. Be a friend and share your good fortune whenever you can.

Another fellow Redditor.

Now, if you’ll indulge me for a moment, I’d like to explain why this is so special to me. About five years ago my wife and I uprooted and moved away from all of our friends to the place we are now. Friends who were once within walking distance or maybe just a short drive away are now scattered across the country with only occasional phone calls, emails and rare reunions to keep us connected. Here I’m faced everyday with people who I share no common interests, tastes or philosophy with. I’m not griping and am not saying I’m lonely. I have my more-beautiful-than-I-deserve-to-be-around wife and three amazing kids who get all my attention but for everything else, there’s reddit.

I’m definitely more of a lurker than anything but this is still one of those rare places outside my own home where I feel connected. When this SS deal rolled around I jumped at it and I’m so glad I did. It was the first opportunity I’ve had for something that’s been such a part of my everyday life to have some tangible result. I didn’t care what I’d get. Those four paperclips would’ve even been worth a lot to me. Just something from a person who’s a member of the same community proving that there’s flesh and blood behind the links and text.

These things, each beautifully wrapped, really hit me. It was much more than I’d expected. The shipping alone cost what I consider to be a fortune. But it was so much more because rather than just some thing, some token of a like-minded individual existing somewhere, there was a lot of thought put into it. It’s meaningful and it has made my Christmas. It beat the hell out of the shamwow set I sent. Thank you so much whoever you are. And kickme444 and 5days, you guys are the greatest.