...are those you don't expect, and when I arrived home for the holidays from a long and stressful examination season, and found a parcel waiting for me... I didn't expect it. Even upon knowing that it was there, I didn't expect that it was a gift of any sort. However, upon opening the parcel, and reading the most eloquently worded & kindly letter left inside, I came to understand that this particularly unexpected gift had come from none-other-than a fellow ICONer, who happened to have picked me to, out of the generosity of his own heart (and pocketbook... $18.60 shipping later), send me a Christmas gift out of the blue! The insulator is a Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Company CD 112, a piece I didn't own, and certainly never expected to (this far north). It's posing in the remains of the foot or so of snow we had fall just before Christmas Eve - I'm not sure that this little piece of glass had ever seen snow before. So, thank you you merry fellow - you've helped to make a hectic holiday season that much better for this collector. I will always remember the present, and don't be surprised if you find something on your kitchen table some day when you arrive home. :)

I hope all out there on ICON had a Merry Christmas!