Ruminations on Ryan

You know those political ads where they say,


"I'm [insert politician name here], and I approve this message."?


The other day I got a text from my good friend Ryan that said:


I'm Ryan Hunter and I approve of you. 


I was thereafter reminded of a few of my favorite Ryan stories, which I'd like to recount here. 


1). Once Brooke and I were teaching Ryan how to drive a stick shift because everyone should learn how to drive a stick shift. He got in my car and promptly revved my RPMs up to the 6000's. This was back in the day before Ryan realized that if you do this to a car, it might blow up. Don't worry, the look on my face definitely gave him the message.


2). Before I stopped eating gluten, I used to eat Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal

Because seriously, who doesn't want to eat something with 6 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein, right? Ryan, being the ever-builder-upper of my self-esteem walked into my kitchen, picked it up and yelled, "Weight Control?! What do you need that for?" Bless him. 


3). For a while Ryan was employed as a high work specialist at BYU. One day I was sitting in my class in the SWKT. I looked out the window to see Ryan on some scaffolding cleaning the window outside my 4th story classroom. I knocked and knocked, but apparently the building has mirrored windows and Ryan couldn't see me. It made me feel like I was in a movie. 


4). Ryan has a little brother. The cutest in all of time. Once his brother watched a documentary about bones and walked right up to his mom and said, "I didn't know we had bones in our arms and in our booty." 


5). At mutual friend Josh's wedding, I met Ryan's dad who pointed out his wife, dancing across the floor with the twenty-somethings. I said, "Ryan sure likes her," to which he promptly responded, "So do I." In such a way that my heart literally melted right then and there. (Okay, so not literally, but you get the idea). 


6). On this lovely Friday, when the snow outside is luckily melting, I'd like to share Team LizRyan's favorite stanza from Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost:


The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep. 




Ah, Ryan. Here's to you, young man. I approve of you. 

In honor of the fact that it's almost my favorite time of year, I give you, Big Time Timmy Jim.

The Last Few Weeks in Gratitude Form

Dear Nutella,

Thank you for being made with skim milk. You are one of the most fattening, delicious foods I have ever eaten, and at least we know you're trying. Me too. Keep up the good work.                           

Love,         Liz

Dear Biceps,
Thank you for your recent growth. It's nice to see you finally measuring up to the way I talk about you.

Love,         Liz

Dear Science Fiction Books,

Thank you for the way that when I explain your plots to those around me, I feel like a completely crazy person.

Love,         Liz

Dear Nail Polish,

Thank you for being one of the most inexpensive, expressive ways for me to display my personality. 

Love,         Liz

Dear Chex Cereal,

Thank you for being totally and completely, naturally gluten free.

Love,         Liz

Dear Days When It's Warm Enough to Walk Outside in a Short-Sleeved Dress,
The more I see of you, the better. Thanks for showing your face so early this year.

Love,         Liz

Dear Mountains,
Thanks for the beautiful view as I drove back on 1-215 today. I love living literally 5 minutes from you.

Love,         Liz

Dear Times I Cry Excessively for Very Short Periods of Time,
I love you and the way you let me get on with my life so quickly. Thanks for your efficiency.

Love,         Liz

Dear Hard Work,

Thank you for making my sleep so delicious. 

Love,         Liz

Dear Strawberry Jam, 

Thanks for falling directly off my toast onto the paper towel I made you on instead of onto the carpet below me. The delightful whimsy of such circumstances is a welcome start to my morning. 

Love,         Liz

Verve

Where has the word VERVE been my entire life? 


I was reading up on The Shins during a recent study avoidance session with pandora.com. The article described their version of We Will Become Silouettes (originally performed by Postal Service and one of my favorite songs of all time) as having "typical ramshackle verve."  I immediately google defined both "ramshackle" and "verve" (although for the purposes of this post, I'm going to focus on verve).


Verve
Vitality: an energetic style

Excitement of imagination such as animates a poet, artist, or musician, in composing or performing; artistic energy and enthusiasm; vigour, vitality and liveliness; rapture, enthusiasm; spirit, energy




Ah, yes. It's what happens two blocks from my house every time I get back on my bike. It's that feeling at the top of a long, hard climb. It's that feeling when I've found the perfect song to listen to while riding a long down hill stretch. Push pull push pull push pull.  


Verve.