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I think Trista made the best choice last night! In fact, I am pleased and surprised that she picked Ryan. I was certain that she was going to pick Charlie, mostly because he is so outgoing and confident. When her family reacted to positively to Charlie's dinner visit I thought that Ryan was going to be hard pressed to follow that act. I was a bit concerned that Ryan was going to blow the whole thing when he was pressing Trista to put him out of his misery and just tell him how she really felt about him. I thought she might perceive his confession of love and the fact that he allowed himself to be so vulnerable by showing his true feelings as a sign of weakness. He made it very clear that if he was not the one that was chosen, he would be devastated. Charlie has previously told her that although he wanted her to pick him, he would be happy for her if she didn't. He never came right out and told her he was in love with her. He talked in the abstract future, of falling in love and building a future. He also said he wanted a long engagement, which Trista seemed to grab on to also. I thought the whole idea of a long engagement was a way of allowing them an out if things didn't work out. The fact that Ryan was so certain how he felt could have scared her off. I think that after Ryan's visit to her parent's home it was very apparent that although both men were very nice, there were great differences in personalities. And I thought Charlie had the upper hand. When Trista made reference again to the geographical barrier of where Ryan currently lives, in Vale, I thought that was a signal of where her true affections lay, and I thought Ryan was toast! I have good feelings that these two can make a go of things. The fact that Trista chose Ryan, acknowledging that to be together one of them would have to likely move, is an indication of the concious thought she placed into her decision. I think she weighed all the pro's and con's and I think she knew that Ryan was committed and sincere and that he not only wanted her but he needed her. Almost makes you misty eyed thinking about the romance of it all and the "happy ending!"?
Ah.. guess I missed the deadline on this.. just watched the show last night, stored on Tivo.. I guess it's cool that Ryan took it. He seems cool, but I had begun secondguessing him thinking he might be too much of a poetic softie to keep an energetic woman happy.. kind of a downer. How long would it be before she yells at him to just "straighten up and act like a MAN!" For that reason I had suspected that Charlie might win, but I too think she chose well in the end. It did, indeed, seem more like Ryan was "in love" than he. So wahoo.