In the summer of 2005 at Glimmerglass Opera, we started dating. We still argue about the exact date. At one point we even picked a date just to be consistent, but it never truly stuck. July 1st or 2nd is when we celebrate, which was around the opening of Lucie di Lammermoor that summer. I think both of us expected a summer fling, actually I know we did because we joke about it, and that’s where The Silence of the Lambs comes into play.
I have never liked scary movies, and I always assumed this was one of the scariest. It’s not that I’m actually scared. I like to say that I startle easily. Exemplified by the time I was seated in a movie theater with about 20 GO production people watching the preview for Snakes on a Plane and screamed at the top of my lungs when the snake jumped out at the audience at the end. I wasn’t embarrassed at all. I swear.
Anyway, our first summer together Ryan wanted to watch The Silence of the Lambs. I, of course, said no and explained that I never have seen nor want to see that movie. So Ryan said, “Let’s make a deal: on our five year anniversary we’ll watch the movie to celebrate.” I agreed assuming that this fantastic summer fling wouldn’t quite last five years. Ryan, I’m sure, made that statement with the same thing in mind.
However, here we are, five years later. We celebrated with a showing of the movie. Ryan passed out about 15 minutes into the movie. I barely could keep my eyes open as well, but I finished it. We were exhausted from work. Can you believe we’ve lived in 3 states together (NY, MA, & TX), traveled across the US several times, have little Oscar to keep us warm, freelance in over 6 states combined, and have lasted 5 years?
It’s kinda amazing. I love him.