In the many years of our lives, we meet many people, acquire many things, and experience a lot. There are those who stay with us for a short time, but there are also those that last.

It’s a good thing that my daughter has “someone” [besides me, of course] who is always with her, a constant companion who, it seems, is almost always with her. I want you all to meet Wendy’s best friend: Puffy Softy.

Wendy has had Puffy Softy since she was a baby. This earliest picture was taken in 2004, when she was 3 years old, the first out-of-Luzon trip for both [CDO-Iligan-Bukidnon trip]. The name Puffy Softy was coined by Wendy herself and refers to the pillow itself [puffy] and the cover [softy].

According to Wendy, she loves the soft feel of Puffy Softy, plus the fact that she also loves to run her fingers through the edges of Softy. In fact, she does this to go to sleep. She has a hard time sleeping when she doesn’t make “kutkut” the edges of Puffy Softy. I remember our trip to Bohol, when she left Puffy Softy in Manila. Ay sus! Pahirapan matulog! As in! [Picture shows her and her Kuya Ean, both with their pillows, in 2005.]

I know there’s something to call this habit or comfort pillow or whatever [muymuy ata], where a kid has this something [like a pillow, a doll, a towel, or a hankie] that he/she uses as a comfort thingy or that he/she rubs her fingers or foot or cheeks [or whatever] against that becomes a habit. But I don’t know where this “habit” came of Wendy came from. I could only say that most of her cousins also have these kinds of pillows. Yun bang favorite nila at kasama kung saan saan! So, it must run in the family. The difference, though, between Wendy and her cousins is that her cousins don’t wash their pillows! Hay, scary! Wendy likes Puffy Softy to be mabango every time! [Picture taken in 2006.]

Ever since, Wendy and Puffy Softy have been inseparable! Puffy Softy has become a constant companion; sometimes, it was already an unconscious action on the part of Wendy to bring Puffy Softy everywhere [like when were in Baguio in 2007, as shown in the picture]. In our house, Puffy Softy is a person, not a thing. And when Puffy Softy gets lost or misplaced, lahat nagkakagulo!

Even though Puffy Softy became tattered and worn out through the years, kahit wala na yung garter ni Softy, Wendy would still bring her almost everywhere! Imagine, in 2008, nakarating pa sa Hong Kong si Puffy Softy! [Buti na lang wala syang bayad sa airfare!]

Wendy and Puffy Softy have been through a lot, through thick and thin. When Wendy was hospitalized in March 2009, Puffy Softy never left her side, as if the one comforting her. I could only say, yan ang totoong kaibigan!

Wendy loves her Puffy Softy so much that when I asked her who will she save when a boat is sinking and she has to save one between me and Puffy Softy, she can’t even decide! Pity on me, the mother, kalevel ko ang unan! He! He!

I could only guess how many more years Wendy will choose to keep Puffy Softy. Maybe, next year, when she will be 9 years old, she would finally let go. But as of now, Wendy is showing no signs of relenting. And honestly, I don’t mind, Puffy Softy is the most faithful friend she has.

Have a great weekend everyone!