I thought I won the present lottery this year when my Secret Santa gifted me a Ruth Bader Ginsburg-themed tote bag.
Then I saw the haul a Michigan Redditor received from regular Chris Kindle Bill Gates.
The Microsoft co-founder has been spreading Christmas joy via Reddit’s gift exchange since 2013, when he surprised user NY1227 with a stuffed cow, a donation to Heifer International, and National Geographic’s “Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips” book.
Gates has upped his game over the last six years, now overnighting 81-pound packages (!) filled with hand-picked (and high-quality) goodies.
When Shelby (whose last name was not revealed) showed up at the FedEx office to pick up her crate, the employees were just as excited as she was: “You’re the Bill Gates package! We’ve been waiting for you all day,” they shouted, according to her Reddit post.
After a Three Stooges-esque attempt to fit the parcel into her compact Ford Mustang, Shelby tore open the bundle amidst employees and patrons to find an array of flawlessly wrapped presents.
“I open the box and am immediately struck by a package that is literally lit up with a strand of fairy lights,” Shelby wrote. “I see the infamous Bill Gates letter placard and photo and my stomach flips. THIS JUST HAPPENED.”
The gift came after a difficult year for the Michigan woman, whose mother died unexpectedly 10 days before her wedding this spring.
“Bill Gates, you are a blessing. This year has been a complete roller coaster of emotions for me,” she said. “It has been hard to drum up holiday spirit this year, and this has been a zap taser of Christmas cheer.”
Shelby shared her reaction in a post on RedditGifts, as well as two YouTube videos, including an unboxing of the presents (below), which featured everything from Harry Potter and Zelda souvenirs to “The Great Gatsby” and Twin Peaks memorabilia.
“I have felt like I’ve been on another planet the past few days and I still cannot believe how lucky/cool/honored/all the adjectives I am to have someone craft such a special and personal set of gifts just for little ol’ me,” according to Shelby’s post. “And your donation to The American Heart Association in my mom’s memory is the most special gift of all. It means more to me than I can express.”
Now in its 11th year, Reddit Gifts Secret Santa invites people from around the world to spread goodwill and joy through the spirit of giving.
Participants provide a “wish list” as a starting point for gifters; an algorithm matches users, who then have until Dec. 20 to ship their present. Folks are encouraged to share their bounty online with a thank-you note and photos.
More on Geek.com:
- Watch: Bill Gates Reveals His Worst Fear in Netflix Docuseries Trailer
- Bill Gates Shows Up With a Jar of Poop to Highlight New Toilet Tech
- Bill Gates Uses an Android Phone Now
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