It was a bit of a burden, carrying a half-wrapped box containing a cast iron pot home from a downtown office party on a crowded el car, but any other commuter on my car could tell I was so proud of my parcel. Despite being weighed down, I wanted them to read the label on the box. Le Creuset.

Receiving the fancy cookware (in red, my first color choice) was a surprise — and yet not. One of the organizers of this year’s holiday luncheon at the company where I contract most of my work got the idea that instead of doling out coupons or gift cards, wrapped presents would be given to every core associate. A few weeks ago, she emailed a catalog link to everyone. We were told to pick out two or three choices and see what Santa might come up with.

Some people received IPad Minis and others opted for jewelry (much easier to carry home on the train).

While I offered an alternate suggestion, I was really happy to unwrap my big box in front of the whole office and see the heavy oval shaped pot and lid. I had to wonder why the gift made me so happy.

Okay, I’m not from a large family with a big Christmas gift-giving tradition, and I did get some extra pleasure from the whole ritual. The president of the company, wearing a red velvet Santa’s hat, read out names on gift tags and individually handed out wrapped boxes. The gifts were given on top, not in lieu, of holiday bonus checks, and I didn’t have to angst over getting anyone a gift and worry about choosing well.

But I think the biggest pleasure stemmed from the fact that I always wanted such a nice piece of cookware, but probably wouldn’t buy such a thing for myself.

Yes, a Le Creuset comes with a lifetime warranty and can go from stovetop to oven to trivet in a buffet line, but spending in excess of $200 — for a pot – I wouldn’t even think about it.

A few years ago, I posted about how charged I was when the local grocery store chain ran a promotion, You’re a Winner. They gave away different sizes of professional grade aluminum cookware in exchange for stamps customers collected based on cash register receipts.

They were rewarding customers for their patronage. It wasn’t as if they gave away the cookware for nothing. But when I turned in my stamps and got a wok (with cover), it seemed like an unexpected boon. I felt so lucky.

This was different. It felt more like a true gift; something I personally valued and didn’t have to do anything to earn. The pot was red, bright and shiny. It came to me attractively wrapped.

I like the thought of entering a new year with the image of my red, enamel coated, timelessly elegant soup pot in mind.

Trusting that the universe can give you something bright and shiny and new – something you might have not imagined or thought of getting for yourself is no small thing.