SNAIL MAIL!

I absotively (yes, that's absolutely and positively) LURVE getting letters in the mail. There is something lost with our generation--authenticity. Since getting to know my best friend, Kelsey, we have spent much time photographing with 35mm film. Shooting with film was something I always thought was kinda neat-o, but never had enough spark or drive to actually start. Kelsey motivated me to try it. Since then, we've taken countless film pictures and even some polaroids! There is something to magical and real about holding your prints. Since you only get 36 exposures per roll, you can't take 400 pictures in one session, and thus, your pictures seem to have more meaning and substance.
Another way authenticity is lost today is through mail--handwritten letters. It's unexplainable, but after being so conditioned and used to electronic communication, letters matter so much more than I ever imagined. It feels so good to write (by HAND) a letter to someone you love; it's intriguing knowing that such a message won't actually be received by the person for at least a few days (which is NUTS in our world of instant gratification). Also, it's such a rush knowing you have real mail. It's like this...

That was my face this afternoon, as I received a major HAUL in snail mail! Let's take a look at what I got!!    :D

A copy of the game Syndicate to play online with my buddy, Jay Stokes! He's away in Arizona, so we like to get games and play them together. Speaking of being away...

I'll be living in Amman, Jordan this summer to learn Arabic! To celebrate, I ordered a sooper cheap Jordanian flag off Amazon, and strung it over my light. I will miss my loved ones very much while abroad. Speaking of missing loved ones, THIS is my loved one! the woman I love. The one I will miss far above all others.

Uh oh, that face can mean only one thing!

"Ryan. Did you just tell the whole internet world that you love me?"

Good thing I'm not a fabulous writer like her and that no one reads this lame blog EXCEPT her :)

Look at the AMAZINGLY EPIC letters I got in the mail today from this lovely lady.

This woman makes me feel so loved. She is away right now, living and studying in Ireland. I miss her like you wouldn't believe. It's too much to handle. So in order to appease my anxiety, I am traveling to Ireland in March to be with her for a WEEK! :D We both love adventures, exploring, and each other's company, so a week alone together--in a beautiful, foreign place--will be as close to heaven as anyone can ever get.

And that's not all she sent me! In celebration and excitement for my coming trip, she wrote me ANOTHER letter.

It contained instructions on how to fly on my first intercontinental flight and some hints and what our week together may look like! This girl blows my mind. Everything about this letter either totally impressed me or made me weak with how freakin' cute it was.

Like this little guy. SO CUTE! Like who thinks of turning the little hole punch into a little ME with a bloon??

Or these flags she doodled when telling me about the international terminal. IS THIS GIRL A GODDESS OR WHAT!?

I simply cannot contain myself. I am the luckiest man on earth.