A Reddit kind of Christmas

The best holiday gift I received this year was not from family, framily or co-workers—it was from a complete stranger—on the internet. For the first time this year I joined the Reddit Secret Santa exchange. Since 2009 Redditors (people with Reddit accounts - without them Reddit cannot exist) and Reddit employees (people with admin Reddit accounts - full disclosure I fall into this category) participate in what is known as the largest Secret Santa exchange in history. It takes two easy (crucial) steps to participate: complete a survey and secure your match. 

Exactly a week ago a tattered box arrived at my apartment from an unknown sender. My senses did not immediately pick up this was from my Secret Santa until I read the “u/“ preceding a secret psuedonym, my Reddit account username. You see, not a single person either in public or private, can connect that username to my real-life identity. I got a little giddy receiving a gift from a stranger with whom now I share a secret.  

Opening the box I found folded brown paper bags in between vinyl. An enevelop fell out as I tried to release it from the box. Vinyl! Plus a handwritten note! I think I nailed it right out the gate in the Reddit Secret Santa exchange.

Here’s what the note said:

Thank you Matt for the four live records performed by four awesome artists: Iron Maiden, The Clash, Otis Redding and Regina Spektor. 

 And what did I give? Pictured below is Brad with the gift I sent him. He said the best gift he ever received was a Millenieum Falcon Lego set. So I sent him this BB-8 Lego set.

Hope Brad enjoys his gift as much as I did keeping this internet tradition alive and well.