My Secret Santa

I've mentioned previously that I was involved in the HF Secret Santa Exchange. The Desert Zaku I recently posted here was my work for another board member. Yesterday mine arrived, and here's the tale as I posted it on the forum:

I'll now tell the tale of how the model arrived.

The postal worker left a notice in the mailbox that there was a parcel requiring a signature that they attempted delivery a couple days ago. I immediately became curious what this might be. Who from far away lands could be sending me something? Could it be... my Secret Santa?

So on Saturday, yesterday, I was in the bathroom taking measurements for the construction work that I was about to get started on when my wife called from the next room, "You got a package."

"Okay," I said, blowing her off. I needed to work.

"From a girl... from Brazil," she stated, sounding testy and jealous.

Okay, that was enough to drag me from my work. Upon inspecting the well sealed package I realized that AfroditeOhki was my Secret Santa. I was very excited to see what awaited within the package, but it was VERY WELL sealed. Hot glue, am I to assume? As I considered the best way to safely open the package my wife began hurrying me. She was clearly very interested in what may be inside from some unknown female.

With care and precision I neatly slit the box open to find two more, smaller boxes and a note. The note was cleverly folded and I felt like a complete tool trying to figure out how to unfold it. But I did, all the while under the glowering scrutiny of my dear wife.

"What is it," she demanded.

"AfroditeOhki is my Secret Santa and it appears she sent me a lovely figure, these are the instructions," I informed her.

Satisfied they weren't love letters, my wife impounded the outer box and went back to her chores.

I carefully opened the boxes, and found the lovely work carefully packed away inside.

Instantly a big smile with dimples grew across my face. I was overwhelmed by this gift. But it wasn't only the gift, but the fact that on this message board we have so many wonderful people who are willing to reach out in acts of kindness to one another. In addition I have a special fondness for all the "youngsters" that we've watched grow in this hobby. AfroditeOhki and the many others will be the "Elders of the Coven" in years to come and I couldn't be more delighted.

With great admiriation in my heart I would like to thank AfroditeOhki for her wonderful gift.

I would also like to thank Goddess In Training for selfelessly putting in all those hours that she did when she wasn't even on the staff at the time.

And I would like to thank every single person who put time and love into a model that they shipped to someone that they, likely, only know as an avatar and a sig line from a hobby forum on the internet.

There are many message boards out there that call themselves "communities" but I think here we're more like a big beautiful family.