Gerald
I am a very normal man to all friends and acquaintances alike. I don't cry, I don't buy flowers or pretty decorative things for my house. I like football and metal and would think nothing of kicking a cat if it started to claw at my shoes.

Meet Gerald, my sunshine buddy.

A few years ago I moved to a strange city, bigger and further away than any place I'd ever lived before. I was several hundred miles from all branches of my extended family and though excited I was also a bit alone. So when I saw Gerald in the window of Forbidden Planet I bought him immediately as I thought my girlfriend would find him cute. Not me of course, I'm a manly man. But my girlfriend would like him. Gerald was posted to my girlfriend with instructions to look after him and within a few months she moved to the same city to live with me in my new house.

Gerald of course came too and he now sits on a south facing window frame in the living room getting the most light to ensure as much bobbing of the head from side to side. Every morning when I open the curtains I'm ashamed to say that I greet him with "Morning Gerald!" and at night wish him well with a "Night Gerald!". I love the spring for one more reason than most as it means that there's enough light when I get home from work to power his solarpanel. For the darkest months of the year I don't see him move except for a few brief occasions at the weekend.

And when my girlfriend and I split up and she moved out we discussed what was going where. She took some extra towels and pillows, I kept the toaster and kettle. She wanted to take Gerald but I was adamant he was going nowhere. I bought him, he was mine. And if you've ever lived with someone for so many years you've forgotten what it's like to go for a few days without hearing another voice, without having a chance to have a conversation with a friend at a moments notice - however brief - about nothing in particular, it can be quite disturbing how eerie and silent it gets.

But I was okay because Gerald was there for me. Always bouncing, always smiling.

So for all my expensive guitar, keyboard, amplifier equipment, the 3 PCs and 15 years worth of banking details, letters and other assorted crap - I would save Gerald, my sunshine buddy.

Words can't begin to describe how unbelievably sad and pathetic I feel having just typed all that.

EDIT: Pic updated to show Gerald in action on his very own windowsill.
( djtrialprice, Thu 8 May 2008, 14:24, 2 replies)

Re: Gerald
I bought a Sunshine Buddy when they guy I (wrongly) thought was the love of my life up and left me with no explanation. My Sunshine Buddy kept me company through the bad times, and now life's a lot better he's still there to greet me every morning when I draw the curtains.

They should give these guys out on the nhs, sales of prozac would plummet!
(new_dawn, Fri 9 May 2008, 17:42, closed)

I have one too
and a flip - flap.

They used to sit on my desk when I had a miserable job.
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Fri 9 May 2008, 21:53, closed)