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"HTML."
Every day before our online journalism class, Ryan and I would seek each other out before heading off. Instead of asking the obvious, "Are you ready for class?" we'd just say, "HTML."
And then we'd head off, sometimes late, but we always waited for each other.
Even a year and a half later, we'd still greet each other with those four little letters, for no other reason than to remember the good times.
I met Ryan when he came to work at the Daily Egyptian as a copy editor at the beginning of 2006. I remember he was such a laid-back, generous, clean-shaven guy. There were many times we were stuck here late at night with the others, having random conversations to pass the time and forget we were stuck in a box with no windows.
But all of us here, we always had each other. There's no way to describe the bond that builds in the newsroom, but it's always worth the time spent here.
Every now and then we'd play Frisbee, and randomly you'd hear Ryan say, "Hey, catch the buzz," and a disk with those words on it would come flying through the air. I remember when we decided it was a "buzz kill" when someone dropped it.
No matter how many times we said it, we still always laughed.
Ryan always made us laugh. All the memories I have of him were great moments in my life that will never be forgotten.
I remember once when he was in charge of doing "Saluki on the Street." He used to always ask me if I wanted to go with him, because he didn't like going by himself. I was usually too busy, but one day I decided I was going to go anyway.
We went around asking people about the Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii. He even let me take the pictures - he's the photojournalist, I'm the reporter - just because he was so happy to have someone go with him.
It was then that he taught me how to use a camera, my first lessons. Of course, they were just the basics, but he always took the time to share his kindness with others, and I always appreciated it.
Every photo I ever took I shared with him and asked his opinions. I know most of them were terrible, but he was always enthusiastic and encouraging. He always made me, and others, feel good about myself.
My favorite photograph of his is the one of the man in his wheelchair playing golf. He had such an eye for finding beautiful moments and amazing people and capturing them to share with others. I made sure I found him the day it ran in the paper to tell him how much I liked it.
I never think we do that enough. I know he really appreciated that.
Ryan never missed a chance to acknowledge you, even if it was with something small. I'll never forget how much fun it was dancing to James Brown in his car or ducking my head to avoid his Frisbee throws. Especially the many times he'd randomly snap hilarious, up-close pictures in the newsroom when he had a spare moment.
One time, he came inside the newsroom because the horizon in the sky was beautiful blend of pink and blue hues. We went outside, and he snapped a photo of me gazing into the clouds with the sky in the background.
I think I'll always think about him when I look at the sky, now, beyond the horizon where he's safe in heaven with God. I know that's where he wanted to be. His faith always astounded and inspired me, and never once did I doubt him.
I wish I had taken more photos with him, but I realize his passion isn't to take photos of himself, but of others.
"HTML."
Someday we'll say this to each other once again, just like old times.
Engler is a senior studying
French and journalism.
