I am behind a little bit but that’s alright. I’ll get there. I wanted Mar to approve this blog before I posted it to make sure I could share the things that I did, which is why it took an extra day. :)
Of course, I decided to start very traditionally with someone I have been proud of for years: my friend, Mar. What a cutie, right? :)
Random Fact: His real name is Edromar. It’s a part of three different names of family members. In different states, he has gone by “Eddy” or “Romeo” etc. But he’s sticking with Mar.
So when I first met Mar (I see it fit to tell our story), we were about 14 or 15 years old. He grew on me quite quickly and it was not long before he was straightforward with me. I remember on my 15th birthday, him and I were sitting in front of the movie theatre and I had known him for about a month or two. He grabs my face and tells me to look into his eyes as I tell the story I was telling. Freaked out, I say no way. He told me that I am terrible at making eye contact and he wanted me to fix that. Be it so, I did a horrid job then and still do with eye contact. But the point is that he has never beat around the bush to make friends. And yet, he became one of the most popular people at our high school. He ended up on prom court (he was NOT happy about that, let me tell you) even, which is really saying something.
Recently- if you follow up with his facebook, then you know that someone came up to Mar with a knife and stole his phone straight from his pocket. When I heard, I became so frustrated. I mean really. You have someone who does nothing but good with great intentions. And as if his life doesn’t get difficult enough, someone steals his phone. But guess where you could find Mar only two days after this? At Panera on Thanksgiving, feeding the homeless. I’m not even kidding. Most people I know would have hid off in their room (heh, let’s not look at me here) and with what had just happened, it would have been totally understandable. He was really shaken up. But no. He continued being the awesome person he is.
Mar has been my strength at times when life is too hard. When my days are difficult, he will show up on my doorstep with food or Starbucks or something to show me how loved I am.
For whatever reason, I am important to Mar. I dwell on this sometimes. I know part of this is because I snagged this friendship in the “early years”. Though we grew apart a little at the end of high school and beginning of college years, we were able to grow back together (like the creepy two headed doll we happen to be – what?) in the past few years. Nevertheless, it was the early years. When he was still becoming who he is today : a man. When he was a boy and needed friends.
Another thing about Mar that you might never know is that he has had some issues with his citizenship (I asked permission before I posted this blog). He came to America when he was like, 10ish, and there were some troubles. In late high school years, the government threatened to send him back to the Philippians. Despite being afraid of that happening (his ENTIRE life was here!), he trucked through. He rarely talked about it and has always been totally understanding of other people’s issues. He is not just a strength for me but for many – when he has ever excuse to focus on himself.
It is impossible to dislike Mar. If you dislike Mar, you are just a stupid jerk with some weird unfair bias. He has a great ability to put those around him at ease and truly cares for each person he meets, no matter how rude to him they have been in the past. Watching him become better every day is insane. Just when I thought Mar could not be any more amazing, he shows the world that he is. He plans to change the world. This one, I think, just may be able to. He is so proactive and loving and compassionate. I would NOT be who I am without him in my life. And I am so freaking proud of him and who he is.
Feel free to comment anything encouraging to this amazing man. :) You don’t have to but hey why not? If you read the whole thing. :P
“You met me at a very strange time in my life.”
