Mr. Pipoy, my fitness buddy.
I never really realized he and I would be great friends. We just chanced upon each other at a forum, and because he's also interested in photography, he said the initial "Hi, hello" thingy. We started exchanging PMs (still talking about photography) and when he gave me his number telling me, "Will wait for your call," I somehow raised an eyebrow, for I just "met" him and it's not really my thing to make calls - especially to guys. Add to that, I am always using the UnliTXT service, so I don't have credits to make calls.
He called me instead.
That first call, it already felt as if we've known each other for many, many years. From photography, he started talking to me about my blogs, and I was blown away to know he has read most of my blogs - even the old posts. When he told me he had a stroke about four/five years ago, he proposed if he could be my fitness buddy, because he wanted me help me be fit and be healthy. It was a proposal I didn't refuse.
Since then, we've talked to each other everyday, even sending text messages here and there. Aside from sharing inspirational stories of how he overcame the struggles of having a stroke and living a healthy life, he also gave me the motivation and the push I needed to help me carry on with this journey.
We will be friends for two months by the end of the year. We have met three times already, the last being last weekend - a day when we celebrated the great friendship he and I are sharing.
Like most friendships, ours wasn't rosy at all. I am a stubborn, hard-headed, insecure, sensitive woman, and I admit that it would take a lot of tape and glue to put my shattered pieces back together. He told me he accepted me who and what I am - every good and bad side - and he said he will be with me for as long as he lives. Despite the many times I doubted his purpose, despite the many times I elevated his blood pressure, despite the many times he would have a hard time catching his breath because I said something so bad to him, he still has never left me, even if I pushed his buttons a lot. It's very easy for one person to just hang up the phone and never call again, but even if none of us were talking, he never hanged up the phone on me. Should the unlicall end at 7 minutes, he would still call me again until we resolve the issue.
In nearly two months that I have known him, I could say that I still am learning. I have grown a lot, I could say... and I have to thank him for being with me all the time. I don't expect any gift this Christmas... I have him and I got what I needed.
