<h1 class="entry-title"><font size="5">Dear Secret Santa, Thanks for NOT giving me Toilet Paper.</font></h1>

Have you ever participated in a "Secret Santa Exchange"?

If not, a bunch of people put their name into a hat, you pull out someones name and you buy them a gift.

My Canadian Blogger Friends coordinated an exchange this year and I took part. I'm always up for a surprise.


The Deal. Less than $10, mailed by December 3 and any special notes (I didn't put any).

It's so much fun seeing what everyone else got and people going crazy trying to figure out who their Secret Santa is.

There were a few times that I thought, "Wow, they got that and I got this...".

It reminded me of Christmas 1992 and 1993 when I was "The It".

I remember it like it was yesterday.

My Aunts, Uncles and Cousins were all gathered at My Nanna's house for Christmas. After dinner, as was tradition, we gathered in the living room, recovered from our digestive stupor and opened up presents.

Life was good.

First up, my cousin Will. He got my grandfather's gold pen set. Then, my cousin Hilary, she got my grandmother's silver vanity set. I was wringing my hands with anticipation. What family heirloom would I receive?

A roll of toilet paper?

Now before you go feeling sorry for me, it wasn't one of those regular rolls. It was two-ply and had a different Christmas crossword puzzle on every square.

Note that it did look eerily similar to the one that my Nanna brought out every year at that time and it was missing some squares. I'm sure there's some simple explanation for the plain one-ply roll in the guest washroom...

Okay, feel sorry for me.

Anyways, when I opened up my present from my Secret Santa this year, I felt like...

...my cousin Hilary!

My Secret Santa, herein referred to as Kelly from City Mom had put a lot of thought into my gift and sent me a Neck pillow, Eye mask and Ear plugs. I don't know how she knew that I, a world traveller, didn't have one but she did. Not only that but that I needed one. The ratty pillow that I've been using is on it's last legs.

Thank you Kelly!

If you think that I'm a Master at deducing who gave me my gift based upon the longitude of the suns rays, I have to admit that I had a little help. The company where she ordered the gift, put her name on the gift receipt...

In case you're not aware, The Zoo will be leaving for a three country, 5,000 km, four and a half day, roadtrip extravaganza on December 15. The best part,

You're coming too!

P.S. In case you think that I made a typo, I was "The It" two years in a row. However, the second year I got a roll of paper towel. I knew that I was "The It" because I got a card stating just that inside while all my cousins got money. No one ever asked My Nanna what the story was behind "The It". I figure they didn't want to get on her bad side.

P.P.S. I was the only family member to ever be "The It" once, let alone twice. I'm so special.

P.P.P.S. If the person that I bought a gift for in the Secret Santa Exchange is reading this, please let me know that you received it. I'm going crazy over here.

P.P.P.P.S. How many P.S's are too many?

  Besos, The Zoo