An Ordinary Day

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary on that warm day. Glynn Birch and his family loved to entertain, and his yard was full that day. Cousins abounded and little Courtney Birch triumphed in keeping up with the "big kids." He was not quite 2 years old but he didn't want to miss out on any excitement. When the familiar melody of the local ice cream truck resounded through the palm treed neighborhood, all the cousins rushed to the street - with Courtney following, his little toddler legs moving as fast as they could. His cousins were getting ice cream and this 21 month old determined he would have some cool sweets as well.

Glynn was laughing and talking when the magical afternoon was split with the sound of a roaring engine. . . screeching tires. . . a dull thud. . . and screaming children.

Courtney Birch never got his ice cream. Ice cream and alcohol are deadly when mixed. A man with three drunk-driving convictions came barreling down the residential street. His deadly decision to drive drunk collided with Courtney at over 70 miles per hour. His blood alcohol level topped at the equivalent of a 12-pack of beer.

The joy-filled world of Glynn Birch ceased to exist the day he lost his son. He survived the funeral performed around a tiny coffin. Then he lost himself in grief and anger at a system that had horribly failed his family. His grief and anger swallowed years of his life. Until. . .

Until he discovered Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), an organization whose very beginnings came out of the same tragic, senseless situation. He connected with their message of awareness about the deadly dangers of drunk driving combined with lobbying for tougher legislation for intoxicated drivers.

Glynn slowly worked his way through his grief as he formed a relationship with MADD. "There's never closure. What you do is adjust. Over the years, I've been able to adjust to the fact that my son is no longer there," he says. "Making something positive out of my son's death is something I need to do. The support that they gave me is the reason why I'm involved...." Glynn slowly smiles, "MADD empowered me to get my life back."

Before Courtney’s death, Glynn Birch enjoyed the success that comes with a business career; first in restaurant management and then later for nearly 2 decades, as a cable TV account executive.

But he chose to leave the corporate world of television and after nearly 15 years as one of its volunteers, accepted the role of National President of Mother's Against Drunk Driving. Although he defies its name, after all he is a father, he embodies its mission, "to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking."

Glynn has taken this leadership position that has previously been filled only by Caucasian women, to keep his son's life meaningful. He never would have chosen to be in this position. But now that he is, he is determined to let the world know, "We all hurt, so we all must take part in stopping drunken driving. . . it hurts everybody."

I wonder about you today. Have tragic things have happened in your life? Can you see a way to slowly begin reclaiming your life? Glynn made a choice to get involved in MADD as a way to channel and redirect his grief. Nothing would bring back Courtney from that ice cream day. But Glynn could make the difference by living in honor of the memory of Courtney's life. Glynn had to choose to do something. And through the years he has chosen to remember the exuberant, loving, giving spirit of his son by empowering others to move beyond their grief and anger.

I encourage you to do the same. Choose today to make one small step toward regaining your life. Then tomorrow choose to make that step again. Keep repeating it until you can take 2 steps and then eventually 3 and so on. I know it is difficult but you are worth it. The memory of a lost loved one’s life motivated Glynn. . . if you too know that pain, please take courage that you are not alone. I hope you find the strength today to take the first steps...just as Glynn did.