New record for longest time between getting a pack and opening it

I set a new record shortly before Christmas, that I didn't set out to set but did anyway.

All the way back in 2004, Upper Deck did a 90 card set documenting LeBron James' first NBA season. Each of the 82 games got a card, plus the awards he won got a card, and at least one "filler" card that was used to make the set 90 cards.

They didn't come all at once. As I recall, they would send some in waves. I got the first 55 cards as they came out, and while I don't remember the exact details, I never got the rest. I do remember we had to call them and complain to get them to send the rest of the cards to me. They did...eventually. I don't remember exactly when, but they came in a big clear heat-sealed pack. This was in 2005. Possibly even 2006, but I'm going to go with 2005.  But...in that time period, 2005-06, I was starting to lose interest in the NBA. I realize now that it was ME that had the problem. But, whatever, I stopped collecting the NBA in late 2006, but I had been unhappy with the sport and cards for a while beforehand. I didn't open the package that contained cards #56-90 and inexplicably a copy of card #54 but not 55. Until December 23rd, 2017. At least 11 years after I got it in the mail!

When I finished scanning my collection for the Database, I went looking for some peripheral stuff that I could post, and the box from UD- still in the mailing box they used to send it to me- was among the items I found. I finally opened the box and added them to my collection late on the 23rd.

I don't know the previous holder of the record. I used to blow through cards as soon as I got them, but when I was not really in the hobby- 2007 and 2008 - it changed. (I never truly left, but scaled way back, where I only got 14 cards in all of 2008 combined...less then I got new in this box, in fact) When I came back in full force in 2009, I did things differently. I took it slower. Instead of the average box taking me 5 minutes or less to open, I now spread it out over hours or even days. It's not uncommon for me to save packs now to spread out the enjoyment. I still have packs I purchased in 2013 at retail that I have not opened yet. Back then, I would just look to see what I got, but now I actually take the time to appreciate what I've got, and sometimes even read the backs.  The record from 1988-06 was probably about 2 or 3 days, as I would sometimes buy a box and save it to open in Lake George.

As I write this, on Christmas Eve, I know I also  still have some packs saved from a box I bought on Ebay in either 2010 or 2011.  I have two left and will open them in 2018, in theory.  But, that was planned. This LeBron set...totally unplanned. In fact, to be honest, I had completely forgotten I even had them until I opened the box and saw an extremely young LeBron looking back at me.

Here's a couple of examples of the cards that waited more than a decade for me.

There's a lot of gold foil that scans black on these cards.

The funny thing is...I'm not sure I included the first 55 in my official collection count. I had a tendency at that time to not count single player tribute sets. And I have absolutely no way of knowing short of doing a full recount. It's why when I say something about my collection totals, I say it's probably not accurate but I treat it as if it is. I don't think I counted the various oversize sets (except 1976-77 Topps) or the undersize sets either, back in the day. (Like the 1996-97 Collector's Choice Mini-Cards, which I separated) Eventually, when everything is typed into Excel, I will know. I'm going to let the computer count for me because I keep the number in three places and none of them match. I don't really trust my ability to get an accurate count, but the computer doing the real work should solve that problem. Cards #56-90 ARE counted, at least.