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RYAN
CONSIDERING THAT REALITY IS PRIMARLY SUBJECTIVE, EACH OF US HAS OUR OWN MEMORIES AND RELATIONSHIP WITH RYAN.
CONSIDERING THAT REALITY IS PRIMARLY SUBJECTIVE, EACH OF US HAS OUR OWN MEMORIES AND RELATIONSHIP WITH RYAN.
I’D LIKE TO SHARE MY REALITY OF RYAN.
I ONLY KNEW RYAN FOR A FEW MONTHS AND HE WILL LIVE IN MY HEART FOREVER. FROM THE MOMENT WE MET, I ALWAYS FELT HE WAS REALLY LISTENING TO ME, MAKING EYE CONTACT AND RESPONDING FROM HIS HEART. HE WAS ALWAYS GENTLE AND PEACEFUL WITH ME, READY TO GIVE A HUG OR OFFER A LISTENING EAR. HE SEEMED TO GENUINELY CARE ABOUT ME AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN MY LIFE.
ON MOTHER’S DAY WE HAD BRUNCH AT THE HUCKLEBERRY WHERE AMY WAS WORKING. RYAN WALKED HOME WITH ME, LISTENING TO ME AS I CRIED AND TALKED WITH MY DAD WHO WAS IN INTENSIVE CARE. RYAN HUGGED ME AND I REMEMBER HOW HE WOULD SO COMPASSIONATELY JUST “AAHH” AS IF
I ONLY KNEW RYAN FOR A FEW MONTHS AND HE WILL LIVE IN MY HEART FOREVER. FROM THE MOMENT WE MET, I ALWAYS FELT HE WAS REALLY LISTENING TO ME, MAKING EYE CONTACT AND RESPONDING FROM HIS HEART. HE WAS ALWAYS GENTLE AND PEACEFUL WITH ME, READY TO GIVE A HUG OR OFFER A LISTENING EAR. HE SEEMED TO GENUINELY CARE ABOUT ME AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN MY LIFE.
ON MOTHER’S DAY WE HAD BRUNCH AT THE HUCKLEBERRY WHERE AMY WAS WORKING. RYAN WALKED HOME WITH ME, LISTENING TO ME AS I CRIED AND TALKED WITH MY DAD WHO WAS IN INTENSIVE CARE. RYAN HUGGED ME AND I REMEMBER HOW HE WOULD SO COMPASSIONATELY JUST “AAHH” AS IF
HE WAS SO TOUCHED.
HE ALWAYS COMPLIMENTED ME WHEN I GOT DRESSED UP TO GO OUT AND WAS INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT MY DANCING STORIES.
RYAN WAS SO EASY TO BE AROUND. AFTER JUST MENTIONING SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, HE WOULD JUST DO IT ON HIS OWN. HE INSISTED THAT IT WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE DISHES AND TAKE OUT THE TRASH.
AFTER A BRIEF PLAN TOGETHER, PURCHASING THE SUPPLIES WE NEEDED, RYAN BUILT AMY AND ME A VEGETABLE GARDEN IN OUR BACK YARD. HE WAS SO GENTLE PLANTING AND CARING FOR THE TOMATOE AND PEPPER PLANTS, WATERING AND INTRODUCING THEM TO THE SUN. MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS SAID YOU COULD TELL THE QUALITY OF A MAN BY THE WAY HE CARED FOR PLANTS AND ANIMALS. SHE WOULD HAVE LIKED RYAN.
AMY, RYAN AND I HAD SOME FUN TIMES. HE REALLY ENJOYED GOING TO EFRAINS FOR MEXICAN FOOD. (COULD BE COUNTED ON TO FINISH EVERYONE’S PLATES.) HE LOVED RED ROBIN (YES, THOSE UNLIMITED FRIES) HE ENJOYED HAVING FAMILY TIME AND DOING THINGS TOGETHER. ONE NIGHT AMY AND HER DAD, JOHN, PLAYED “SCENE-IT” AGAINST RYAN AND I. THEY WON BUT WE ALL HAD FUN IN OUR LIVING ROOM.
RYAN WAS SO EASY TO BE AROUND. AFTER JUST MENTIONING SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, HE WOULD JUST DO IT ON HIS OWN. HE INSISTED THAT IT WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE DISHES AND TAKE OUT THE TRASH.
AFTER A BRIEF PLAN TOGETHER, PURCHASING THE SUPPLIES WE NEEDED, RYAN BUILT AMY AND ME A VEGETABLE GARDEN IN OUR BACK YARD. HE WAS SO GENTLE PLANTING AND CARING FOR THE TOMATOE AND PEPPER PLANTS, WATERING AND INTRODUCING THEM TO THE SUN. MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS SAID YOU COULD TELL THE QUALITY OF A MAN BY THE WAY HE CARED FOR PLANTS AND ANIMALS. SHE WOULD HAVE LIKED RYAN.
AMY, RYAN AND I HAD SOME FUN TIMES. HE REALLY ENJOYED GOING TO EFRAINS FOR MEXICAN FOOD. (COULD BE COUNTED ON TO FINISH EVERYONE’S PLATES.) HE LOVED RED ROBIN (YES, THOSE UNLIMITED FRIES) HE ENJOYED HAVING FAMILY TIME AND DOING THINGS TOGETHER. ONE NIGHT AMY AND HER DAD, JOHN, PLAYED “SCENE-IT” AGAINST RYAN AND I. THEY WON BUT WE ALL HAD FUN IN OUR LIVING ROOM.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES WAS WHEN RYAN, AMY, CRYSTAL, MY FRIEND, SUSAN AND I WENT TO NISSIS TO SEE THE “DUELING PIANO PLAYERS.” WE LAUGHED AND SANG. RYAN WAS
SMILING THE WHOLE NIGHT AS HE ATE, SANG AND CLAPPED.
AMY AND RYAN HAD PLANNED TO
GO TO THE PROM. RYAN, CASUAL
GUY THAT HE WAS, DIDN’T HAVE
THE PROPER ATTIRE. HE WASN’T
TOO CRAZY ABOUT DRESSING
UP BUT WAS WILLING TO DO SO
FOR AMY AND THE PROM. SO HE
AND I HEADED OUT TO GET
SOME NEW CLOTHES. WE FOUND
THE PERFECT PAIR OF DRESS
PANTS THAT HE WOULDN’T BE
TOO UNCOMFORTABLE WEARING
AND THAT LOOKED REALLY
SHARP. HE AND AMY THEN GOT
THE SHOES AND THE PERFECT
RED SHIRT TO MATCH HER
DRESS. THEY WERE A STUNNING
COUPLE, COULDN’T GO TO THE PROM BUT
DID THE UN-PROM DINNER INSTEAD. (THEY TOOK SOME GREAT PICTURES.)
WHEN RYAN GOT A PAY CHECK, HE WAS PROUD TO READILY CONTRIBUTE TO HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES. HE ALSO HELPED AMY GET HER BANK ACCOUNT IN ORDER.
WHEN RYAN GOT A PAY CHECK, HE WAS PROUD TO READILY CONTRIBUTE TO HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES. HE ALSO HELPED AMY GET HER BANK ACCOUNT IN ORDER.
HE WAS VERY CREATIVE. HE HAD EXCELLENT
HANDWRITING, LOVED ART, DRAWING AND COLLAGES. HE ENCOURAGED AMY TO DRAW, EXPAND HER CREATIVITY AND ENTER THE ART CONTEST FOR DIVERSITY DAY AT SCHOOL.
RYAN WASN’T SURE WHAT FIELD HE COULD GO INTO. HE WANTED TO HAVE A BUSINESS OF SOME SORT. HE DIDN’T WANT TO PURSUE PLUMBING BUT WAS VERY PROUD OF THE PEOPLE HE HELPED WITH THEIR PLUMBING AND THAT HE WAS PART OF A START-UP PLUMBING BUSINESS.
RYAN WASN’T SURE WHAT FIELD HE COULD GO INTO. HE WANTED TO HAVE A BUSINESS OF SOME SORT. HE DIDN’T WANT TO PURSUE PLUMBING BUT WAS VERY PROUD OF THE PEOPLE HE HELPED WITH THEIR PLUMBING AND THAT HE WAS PART OF A START-UP PLUMBING BUSINESS.
HE DIDN’T SEEM INTERESTED IN GOING BACK TO SCHOOL BUT DID AT ONE POINT PUT IN A CALL TO BOULDER TECH FOR A CAREER COUNSELING APPOINTMENT.
THE PRIMARY INPACT THAT RYAN HAD ON ME WAS HOW HE AFFECTED AMY. HIS SHORT PRESENCE IN HER LIFE HELPED HER MATURE, GET INSIGHT AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REALITY OF LIFE. HE ENCOURAGED HER TO GO TO SCHOOL, TO ORGANIZE HER ROOM, TO SPEAK MORE KINDLY TO OTHERS AND TO ME, TO SEE THE OTHER SIDE OF THINGS. HE MADE AMY FEEL CENTERED, CALM AND MOST IMPORTANTLY LOVED AND RESPECTED FOR WHO SHE IS.
AMY, MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU. YOUR GOOD FRIEND AND LOVE HAS GONE ON TO ANOTHER PLACE. I KNOW HE WILL LIVE IN YOUR HEART ALWAYS AS HE WILL FOR ALL THOSE LIVES HE HAS TOUCHED.
AS A PARENT, MY HEART GOES OUT TO RYAN’S MOM AND DAD, STEP PARENTS, GRAND PARENTS AND FAMILY. HIS FAMILY WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM.
AS A SISTER, MY HEART GOES OUT
AMY, MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU. YOUR GOOD FRIEND AND LOVE HAS GONE ON TO ANOTHER PLACE. I KNOW HE WILL LIVE IN YOUR HEART ALWAYS AS HE WILL FOR ALL THOSE LIVES HE HAS TOUCHED.
AS A PARENT, MY HEART GOES OUT TO RYAN’S MOM AND DAD, STEP PARENTS, GRAND PARENTS AND FAMILY. HIS FAMILY WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM.
AS A SISTER, MY HEART GOES OUT
TO STEVE. YOUR BROTHER LOVED
YOU SO VERY MUCH AND I KNOW
HE KNEW HOW MUCH YOU LOVED
HIM.
AS A MOTHER, A FRIEND AND A HUMAN BEING,
MY HEART ESPECIALLY GOES OUT TO YOUNG PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ON THE PLANET WHO ARE GROWING, LEARNING AND STRUGGLING TO MAKE THEIR WAY AND FIND THEIR NITCH.
THE RYAN I KNEW WOULD WANT
PEACEFULNESS IN THE WORLD,
SATISFYING AND NURTURING JOBS
AND RELATIONSHIPS FOR ALL, AND
HE WOULD ESPECIALLY WANT LOVING FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR EVERYONE.
THE RYAN I KNEW HAD A GENTLE SOUL AND WOULD WANT TO KNOW THAT HE HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD.
THE RYAN I KNEW HAD A GENTLE SOUL AND WOULD WANT TO KNOW THAT HE HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD.
Thank you Cathy!
Cathy, an RN with BCH, delivered this message to me at the gathering to celebrate Ryan's life in August '06. Cathy is Amy's Mother. Amy was one of Ryan's
companions shortly before he was killed.
