Thursday, December 31, 2015

Greetings for Christmas 2015, and New Years 2016


Just when I thought the dust had settled on this year's Christmas celebrations, yesterday the postman delivered the ModernVespa.com 2015 gift exchange present. I got to the door as the driver was climbing into his truck and we exchanged enthusiastic waves in a scene reminiscent of a Saturday Evening Post Norman Rockwell Christmas cover.

Before I get to that, I should say that the fates were kind to us, we had four of our six kids spend the holidays with us. They left yesterday morning. OK, OK, OK, don't freak out... three kids are ours, and they each have a partner, so three plus three is six wonderful kids. Susan and I are not that prolific. Think of it as a nice balance of organic growth, and mergers and acquisitions.

Santa was kind to me. I got all I was wishing for, plus a surprise or two. I hope that your holidays were satisfying as well.

This marks the fourth year I have participated in the annual MV gift exchange. The guidelines are simple. Keep the gift or gifts down to $15 or $20, try to make the gift Vespa themed and, if possible, add something that speaks to where you live. The MV forum has members worldwide, though for the most part in English speaking countries.

This year my gift went to a member in San Diego. In addition to a set of ROK straps (he had mentioned in a post that he wanted to tackle some longer distance rides), I sent him an official Vespa Montreal T-Shirt, a metal Vespa pin, a Vespa patch, and some official MV stickers.

In return, and concidentally my benefactor also happened to be in San Diego, I received an official Vespa alarm clock, resembling a vintage Vespa headlight, an official Vespa blank journal, and a bunch of stickers. Quite the haul. In the past I have received gifts from Wisconsin, the UK and Israƫl.


Each year is a surprise, and everyone opens their presents online, which adds greatly to the suspense and the fun.

Receiving the gift after its long, long, long fifteen day trip via USPS and Canada Post, when there were fears expressed that it had vanished into thin air at the hands of post office hob gobblins, was a pleasant surprise, and a relief.

With just over six hours to go in 2015, I wish to each and every one of you, a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2016. I promise to have a champagne toast to wish you the best, and I'll blow you a virtual midnight kiss.

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PS for Richard... here are your close-ups:


22 comments:

SonjaM said...

Happy New Year, David to you and yours.

RichardM said...

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Nice collection of Vespa stickers. How about a close up of the clock?

The City Mouse in the Country said...

May you and yours (even the acquired ones) have a Happy and healthy New Year. :)

redlegsrides said...

Nice haul on the Vespa stuff! Happy New Year to you and yours!

ADK Jim said...

Happy New Year David & family. All the best for the New Year!

RichardM said...

Thanks for the clock pictures, it looks like a great gift. And I really like the first photo. It almost looks like a painting.

Trobairitz said...

Very cool Vespa haul.

Happy New Year! We were in bed asleep by 11, rebels that we are.

Dar said...

Happy New Year! Very cool clock! Our Christmas was lovely, filled with family and friends!

Steve Williams said...

Nice clock! And glad your gift arrived. I mailed one to a MV person in Toronto on December 5th and they still don't have it. Will pay a visit to the post office tomorrow to see if they can see what the problem is....

Happy New Year!

Coop a.k.a. Coopdway said...

Happy New Year David to you and all 6 of your kids! The MV Gift Exchange sounds like great fun, a very nice way to keep a large and scattered group together.

David Masse said...

Thanks Sonja, same to you and Roland. I hope he's feeling better.

David Masse said...

Happy New Year to you and Bridget and all the best for the new year.

Glad to oblige for the close-ups.

David Masse said...

Thanks Rob! Happy New Year to you and Susan. Here's wishing both of you a happy and heatly(er) 2016.

David Masse said...

Happy New Year to you and your family Dom!

David Masse said...

Happy New Year to you and Grace. Looking forward to some time together in Florida in the new year.

David Masse said...

It's not talent. It's the LifeProof case on my iPhone. It protects my iPhone from me, but muddies my pictures and my sounds.

David Masse said...

Early to bed, early to rise... a recipe for a good life.

David Masse said...

Just as it should be. All the best to you and your family for the new year Dar!

David Masse said...

Steve when I read you had mailed to Canada I was hoping your gift was coming here of course.

All my best to you, Kim, and the pooches.

David Masse said...

You are so right Doug. It adds a tangible and very personal dimension to a forum that is one of the very best in existence.

Happy New Year to you and your family!

VStar Lady said...

Terribly cute idea - the Vespa gift exchange! Surprises are always the most fun. Happy New Year to you and all. Looks like way more snow in Montreal than here.

David Masse said...

Surprises are a lot of fun, it's true.

As for our snowfall, we got a decent dump, but the angle of the photo makes it look worse than it is.

The copyright in all text and photographs, except as noted, belongs to David Masse.