the bipolar (bear) disorder

i love holidays. it gives you the chance to meet up with old friends and chew the fat with them so to speak. last week, i was with three friends from manila (x, y, z). one of them (x) is a balikbayan from the united states.

our meeting was of the usual hellos and how's it hanging type. each of us were into our fourth bottle of strong ice when x confessed that the past few years of his life were difficult. he was diagnosed of having bipolar disorder and was struggling to cope with it.

a moment of silence.

then z bluntly asked, "so you're gay?"

i said, "what the fuck, people with bipolar disorder are not necessarily gay. bipolar disorder is.." then as i was about to explain, y (as in y were you ever born in the first place) suddenly interrupted.

"so does that mean, if you're bipolar, that you like both guys and girls?," he said with a mischievous grin.

i slapped my forehead, z was laughing his head off, y was still looking for a confirmation, and x was truning red obviously irritated by the comments of the two. to break the ice, i said to those two numb nuts that "bipolar" means our friend x is turning into a bear that can reside both in the north and south pole.

apparently, sarcasm was not one of y's and z's strongest suits. by this time x was the one laughing his head off. y and z looked terribly puzzled. and we ordered another round of beer.

bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. they can result in damaged relationships, poor performance, and even suicide.

i'm beginning to think i'm bipolar too. now, if i could just figure out which place is better.. north or south pole..

i'm out.