Joy M. — A Friendship That Endures

Joy M. has been part of my life since, well… practically since history began. More accurately, we met on eHarmony in 2005, and she moved to Albuquerque from Florida in May 2006. We started out as roommates and tried the couple thing, but it didn’t quite click. Fortunately, we figured that out early and moved into a new apartment complex with two cater-corner units in a quadruplex. That setup worked great — and we’ve remained close friends ever since.

When I relocated to Indiana in 2014, Joy came along for the ride, along with Ed “Josh” V. We now share a house, though she’s the official owner and I’m what you’d call a “life tenant.” The romantic chapter is long behind us, and we’ve settled into a comfortable arrangement: I’ve got the upstairs, and Joy enjoys two lovely rooms downstairs, including a cozy master suite with a great bathroom.

With Joy’s help, we built a large pole-building-style garage — and later added electricity, insulation, interior walls, and a finished ceiling. Not too shabby!

Now, about those photos… Some are from earlier days, but the transformation in 2024 is worth spotlighting. Joy began working with a nutritionist and started an injectable medication that promotes weight loss and lowers blood sugar. The results? Nearly 200 pounds gone — and what a difference it’s made. She’s looking and feeling better than ever, and I couldn’t be prouder of her journey.