"The tragedy of life is not death, the tragedy is what we let die inside of us while we live." I read this quote the other day Ryan and I couldn't help but think of you & how true this saying is. Grief is hard & changes us all. The challenge is to not let it destroy us. Its hard to believe in that right now through because it still doesn't feel real and I'm positive there are so many that feel the same. I guess it just hasn't sunk in all the way yet and maybe that's OK for now. However, as I sit here writing you this, I need you to know something. Meeting you was a blessing and even though our road this last year was full of ups and downs, I'm thankful that in the end we could put it all behind us and start over. Your friendship meant a lot and your forgiveness so much more. Your memory will live on in your friends, your family, & your fiance I heard so much about. You will truly be missed Ryan. "You can shed tears that he is gone, or you can smile because he lived. You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back or you can open your eyes & see all he's left. Your heart can be empty because you can't see him, or you can be full of the love he had for everyone. You can turn your back on tomorrow & live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember him only that he is gone, or you can cherish his memory and let it live on. You can cry & close your mind, be empty & turn your back. Or you can do what he'd want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on. Anonymous