A slight vow of silence.

The past week, I've tried to make a point of listening more and talking less. I did this with the hope that through a slight vow of silence, the overwhelming feelings of anxiety I had would run their course, uninterrupted. In my attempt to talk less and listen more, I actually did end up receiving more information this weekend than I had expected.

~

I really wish Joey would get a job. Or at least clean up the house while we were at work. 

LIZ: You should try downtown. You don't have to do anything full-time, just something small and easy. You know, like part-time washing dishes or cooking.

JOEY: I can do more than wash dishes like you.

Patrick, I wish you weren't clocking in 120 hour work weeks.
I know it will pay off in the end, but I just worry about you sometimes...and I miss you.

MOM: Elizabeth, I see how terrible it was for grandpa when he lost grandma, and why he left everything exactly the way she left it, just before she died...I will NEVER be able to move on.
LIZ: (Leans over to Mom and holds her.)

LIZ: [Cleaning up coffee explosion that co-worker made.]

CO-WORKER: I told you to put the lid on tighter!

LIZ: You put the lid on the shaker.

CO-WORKER: Yeah, but you were supposed to make sure it was on all the way.

LIZ: [Shakes her head, "no".]

If I'm, "just a dishwasher", it's because of you.
You just eat, sleep, repeat.
Eat, sleep, repeat.
Eat, sleep, repeat.
Wake up, then do it all over again at noon.
If I'm going insane, its because you expect
Change without Change
Like a rude panhandler on the street .
Outside of a community college,
using a copy of the FAFSA to stay dry in the rain.
Both soggy and incomplete.
At least it was free.
If I'm, "just a dishwasher" its because of you.

~

RYAN: I have something to ask you.
LIZ: Okay, ask away.
RYAN: This is kind of embarrassing because I don't know how to ask this...
LIZ: You can start by asking me.
RYAN: Um..okay. Will you be my girlfriend?
LIZ: (Smiles) Ask me again when you haven't had that much to drink.
RYAN: Okay.

At Rise:
[The next night, RYAN and LIZ are standing, facing each other
in the driveway of LIZ's house. RYAN brushes the hair away from
LIZ's face with his hands and he is staring at her in silence, smiling.
LIZ makes eye contact with him and returns his smile. RYAN leans
in toward LIZ, and they kiss.]

LIZ: (Looking up at Ryan, smiling, but still wondering
why he is staring at her.) What?
RYAN: So last night, I asked you something and you told me
to ask you again when I was sober.
LIZ: Uh-huh...
RYAN: So I'm going to ask you again. Sober.
LIZ: Okay.
RYAN: Will you be my girlfriend?
LIZ: Why do you want me to be your girlfriend?
RYAN: Because I know what I want. You're WAAAY
different than any other girl I've ever met. I know a good thing when
I see it and I don't want to pass up this opportunity to be with you.
LIZ: Okay then. Yes.

RYAN pulls LIZ closer into him, and they kiss again.

i start to melt
with my arms, around your waist
and my mouth, starts to spell
and the words, saying its okay
--Peter, Bjorn, and John/Start to Melt