I remember Ryan loved getting his 25 cent refills at circle K. We ate at Jamba Juice or A&W. I worked with him at Ross. I usually don't tell people I worked at Ross. I had never been in a Ross store until Ryan took me in and had me fill out an application. I needed a job and Ryan helped me find one. Ryan also helped me find some great music or discover the greatness of other music I already knew: Beck, John Hiatt, Beatles, Beach Boys, Elvis Costello (in no particular order).
Late at night I would often crave juice. We would go to Raley's and buy juice. I remember standing in the kitchen late one night and Ryan cracked a joke. Nobody laughed because it wasn't funny. He looked at us a little surprised and said "Oh! That wasn't funny?!" As with everything about Ryan, it wasn't what he said but how he said it. His first joke wasn't funny, but his reaction got us laughing hard.
Ryan loved to say things that he knew would make me uncomfortable. Unlike other people like that, he persisted even when I tried not to give him the satisfaction of a response.
With all of Ryan's idiosyncrasies, and he had lots, there was never any doubt that he truly cared about people. He would never hurt anyone. He knew too well what it was to hurt. I love him for that. I love him for his gentleness. I will miss him until I see him again and he says the most strange thing he can think to say to me.