The (Un)Official Secret Santa 2020!

[mikethompson]

Hasn’t left the country yet.

Yikes.

Surely the Christmas backlog of packages would be worked through by now. At least you would think...

 

[3rdguy]

I just mailed a video game, Priority, for delivery 2 states over. Took 16 days and at 1 point it came back to my state.

 

[ashdigger]

Yikes.

Surely the Christmas backlog of packages would be worked through by now. At least you would think...

The returns are now clogging the system.

 

[scloyd]

The returns are now clogging the system.

Along with all the new purchases made with Christmas gift cards.

 

[mikethompson]

The returns are now clogging the system.

Along with all the new purchases made with Christmas gift cards.

I don't know why I thought online shopping just ends in December.

 

[woodsroad]

Here's one of six packages that I'm watching.
I live just outside Philadelphia. Rochester is 300 miles north of me. On its bass ackwards way to Rochester, the box passed within less than a mile of my house:

​

 

[EvergreenPiper]

Can wait to play next year.

 

[mikethompson]

In a way, I will be sad when this thread is done. What a sense of familiarity this brought always at the top of the forum list. Maybe Dan's package will leave the US just as it is time to start the Secret Santa 2021 thread.

 

[woodsroad]

One Step Closer!
My package has made it to Azerbaijan!

​

 

[mikethompson]

My package has made it to Azerbaijan!

Plot twist: It is in Azerbijan, Rhode Island

 

[woodsroad]

Oh, good Lord. You're right.

 

[jguss]

Plot twist: It is in Azerbijan, Rhode Island

Is there another one?

 

[jvnshr]

I have been participating in Secret Santa event since 2016 and honestly I have always enjoyed the stalking part. I decided to participate in this (actually last) year's event as well, however later due to personal reasons I had to ask @woodsroad to remove my name from the list. He did that without a problem but after a few weeks or so he informed me about a package that was on its way to me. Dan's package is beyond this event, I am touched, I just don't know what to say. Thanks again Dan, I will update you guys once I receive the package.

 

[woodsroad]

What with COVID, the ongoing USPS job action and the unfortunate war in Azerbaijan, I was seriously skeptical that my package would arrive on Javan’s doorstep. If and when it does, I will send the second half!

Javan, you are an integral part of the Secret Santa Extravaganza! There is no way that we’d leave you out of all the reindeer games.

 

[jvnshr]

I received a call from post office in the morning and went to pick it up during my lunch break. I can't thank @woodsroad enough. Here are the pictures:

Looks like one of the customer officers who has claws instead of fingers was interested in candies



Haha, he couldn't reach tobacco, amazing cover Dan



I was going to wait until Christmas, but life is too short



I received two great tins of G. L. Pease blends, both being 20th Anniversary Limited Editions: Cumberland and Samarra. I have an unopened tin of Cumberland but Samarra was in my wishlist for a very long time.



The postcard says



Wait, does this mean that he took that photo and printed it?

 

[mikethompson]

Last but not least! Very nice Not so Secret Santa package!

 

[woodsroad]

And so we close the final chapter on the Secret Santa 2020/21 Extravaganza.
Thank you everyone for playing along, especially those who kept this thread going with your frequent updates, encouragement, humor and sharing of the holiday spirit. A very special thank you goes out to those who volunteered to step in as elves, should something go south, and to Tim Lomprey, who went above and beyond the call of duty in making sure that everyone had something under the tree.

Have a great year, everyone.
See you back here in 10 months!

-Dan

 

[python]

Another successful Secret Santa in the books! Even though it makes me a little sad as I enjoy this thread every year, closing it down.