About Dana (Written by Ryan)

It is unimaginable to think that this world of 7 billion people somehow managed to allow Dana and I to cross each other's path. Some fortunate job relocations and amazing timing made our destiny happen- we could very easily have never known of each other's existence.

Dana was my very first, and ultimately only, girlfriend. I didn't have very much confidence in grade school so I was never willing to take the risk and ask a girl out. I knew Dana was someone very special from the moment we started talking at The Anderson's. It was my final night of training and I was assigned to shadow Dana. She let me hop on register and start scanning away- and of course my first customer was paying a $200 order with small change. My nervousness was overwhelming as I feared that my counting skills were off in both counting the bills and giving away the change- I would have been very upset if Dana got a "drawer error" all because of me. She had this amazing ability to automatically put my fears aside, and comfort me in a way that allowed me to regain my confidence immediately and forget all my worries. It was her, and only her, that made me put all my fears and personal obstacles aside because I knew she was someone who would change my life.

Since that day in 2009 Dana has been attached to my hip. We have been unseparable and still have not found a reason to grow sick of each other. She has become someone who I can say what's on my mind and not even think about being judged or ridiculed. She's someone who shares my sense of humor, so I can enjoy the same things as her without having to explain my laughter.

Although Dana is perfect for me, she is by no means perfect herself. One thing that particularly stands out is she always manages to be the slowest person to do anything. She's very detail oriented and refuses to finish her work without reaching absolute perfection. This of course takes forever and a half, which is the exact opposite of my fast paced Go! Go! Go! attitude. The smallest of details are pondered and analyzed even though they will be overlooked in the end. Dana has indeed been biten in the butt several times during school because of her relentless pursuit of perfection, yet still refuses to change her ways. Time management is in no way a strength for her, but in the end she does produce quality work and it will certainly be on display next October.

Another thing that is quirky about Dana is her inability to choose a favorite...anything. This really restricts our conversations as I'm someone who loves ranking things and speculating on what things are better. Nope, this girl just goes through life appreciating everything for all that it offers. Chocolate has its benefits, but vanilla is good too. It has become a joke amongst us and I think that one day she'll break through and choose a favorite restaurant or something. The final thing that defines Dana is her overanalysis of ideas...particularly my ideas. Although I know I can say anything to her, sometimes I hold back any groundbreaking ideas I have just so I don't have to sit through the cons list. A simple thing such as a new app goes through multi-levels of critical analysis in Dana's brain, which usually decides my ideas are not worth pursuing. 

Although she has some flaws, there are a lot of great things about Dana that I value and strive to mimic. I think the biggest quality about her that anyone can point out is how compassionate she is. She really put her money where her mouth is and has been vegetarian since before we were dating. Additionally, she has converted so many people into recyclers, and is not afraid to speak up when people are harming the earth. She also cares about people and their feelings (sometimes even mine!)- she is always finding reasons for defending people's negative actions and always tries to put on a cheery face for a conversation with strangers. Her minimum tip is always 20%, and she truly values hard work and dedication. Her drive to make this world a better place often goes unnoticed, so I hope all of these readers become aware of how special this girl is.

Another great thing about Dana is her creativity. Being an interior designer is an absolute perfect fit for her. She has a genuine knack for improving things and making anything aesthetically pleasing. I have come to realize my rational and straightforward thinking is boring and outdated. I have learned the value that art and design plays in this world all thanks to Dana. Every project is an opportunity to go above and beyond traditional design in order to bring a specialness and uniqueness to the world. It is only fitting that Dana is pursuing a career that uses interiors to beneift those using the space for improved productivity and improved efficiency.

I am so fortunate to have her in my life, she has changed me for the better. To think where I was at 18, to where I am now, I am a better person all because of you Dana.