I mentioned it briefly in the message I left but I felt I wanted to expand on it a little.
Being on the football team with Sean I remember that first day. Coach brought him into the huddle and introduced him. At the time, we had quite a few people on the team that I didn't agree with, so much so that I honestly can't think more than two people I would call "friends" from that team. One being Billy Holley and the other being Sean.
On his first day coach introduced him and stated he would make many friends to which Sean replied, "I'm not here to make friends." Looking back on it, I'm not sure if he just immediately could tell the overall character of the people composing that team or what it was, I'm sure that had something to do with it. Like I said there were quite a few unsavory people there.
It doesn't bear repeating what happened his first few days on the team, and, I would just like to tell you that a majority of us were livid when we found out. I made it a personal mission to hit the people involved as hard as I could for quite some time.
It was during that time though that I started talking to Sean. I didn't want him to feel like an outsider. I had grown up in Poway and had only been in Lakeside for a few years so again, I found myself relating to Sean in a way most other people on the team couldn't. I would chat him up whenvever I saw him, memory is hazey but I am fairly certain him and I shared a few classes in which I took the oppurtunity to talk to him. I loved Sean. He, as I mentioned, was infectiously happy and positive. I don't know many people that could have happen what happened to him and not leave the team immediately.
I think after that he gained a ton of respect amongst the other memebers of the team. Surely there were still some that viewed him as an outsider and maintained their ridiulousness. But I started seeing him grow. He wasn't immediately talented or athletic but he showed so much dedication and desire to grow. So many days in practice there would be people taking plays off or not trying, and then, there'd be Sean, going 100 miles an hour every. single. play.
He was determined to earn respect, and I can say with no doubt in my mind he did. I left El Cap after my juniour year but going through the pictures I see he got the reward for most improved, I'm not surprised. He was an amazingly hard worker and put most to shame. Even during his growth I can recall a few times I saw him throw out a block or go up to catch a pass that 9/10 receivers on our team wouldn't have been able to and come down with it. He was something else.
Hearing the news I did a while back I was shocked. I teared up immediately and before I knew it had tears rollin down my face. I spent time with so many people from that school and otherwise, but Sean, he was something else. He left a lasting impression on me. And I just wanted to tell him and you that.
Always and Forever
The self does not return to who it was. It changes.
Death of a loved one changes who we are.
The change is healthy and necessary.
Seen this way, it becomes clear why we never “get over” the death.
We don’t “snap out of it.”
We don’t get over it.
Getting over it is not an option because we are already permanently changed by death.
“As long as we can love each other, and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away.
All the love you created is still there.
All the memories are still there.
You live on – in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here…
Death ends a life, not a relationship.”
We do not stop loving because the loved one died.
We change our minds to make way for a rearranged relationship.
The self changes this way.
We defeat tragedy this way.
We change it into ongoing love and relationship.
It is who we become.
It is who we are, then.
A broken heart can inspire new life.
Death redefines us; it does not annihilate us.
We do not need to go backward to find peace.
Why? Can one ever understand
Been searching all day and evening with just what to say and if I should say anything ?
During this time of year, many things and memories come into peoples lives, sometimes painful.
And I was not going into the situation of Sean Luc,
Was not going into the sadness, just post pictures and happy memories.
BUT;
Myself and Sean Luc has received personal message about taking ones life and thinking about it on our Face Book pages.
And I know this is personal and I am not a professional. You can contact me I well send my Phone number, and or a professional's number. If possible and if wanted I well meet with you personally. Just an O'Cowboy with big Ole Shoulders.
Let me say this: “Satan, who is the father of all lies, can cause people to believe that they are worthless and have no purpose,”
“When people start thinking that way we need to get to them quickly.
We all especially myself missed the signs that Sean Luc was suffering so much..
They need to know they are a son or daughter of God and that they are loved.”
Elder Birch aka Ol'Cowboy needs to warned about judging those who take their own lives.And those who even are even thinking about taking their lives.
Only God can truly understand the many complexities and circumstances that surround a suicide, and the thoughts of suicide.
He will be merciful and kind.
So be gentle and kind in word and thought for those who have passed,
“And let the judgment issues rest with heaven.”
Losing a child, a spouse, a parent, a sibling or a friend to suicide can cause deep suffering and confusion.
But survivors can find peace and hope amidst their grief through Christ.
“Trust your Heavenly Father. Trust the Lord Jesus Christ, and go on with your life as ending ones life there is no "Do-over's" "No What If's" and anything can be over come. ANYTHING!
This the Ol'Cowboy knows!!
Story Sean wrote about his Dad in High School
Found this on Sean's computer, as I tried to explain to Marilyn last night everyone well move on with their lives (As they should) just the way it is. Sean well be but just a distant memory.
Except for the Ol'Cowboy and a very few family members but especially the Ol'Cowboy, (Dad) some understand the relationship we had, but in reality it's between Myself, Sean and God. Yes God, Yahweh, Our Higher Power what ever you wish to say. Stories I well share later, Important.
And even fewer want to hear the truth, even family - Just sad - Just move on, for the truth is painful sometimes. Just ignore?
Was going to correct Sean's writings but my Boy wrote it so I kept it intact.
As I have personally never ran away from a fight or life's adversities I well not and refuse to suppress my memories and thoughts and Love of my Son, Sean Luc Birch.
Seriously, take a few moments and actually read.
Thanks for listening, O.C. aka Dad.
.
March 4, 2012 at 6:43pm
Most people like a lot of variety in there life my Dad, Roy took it to a whole new level he has done jobs, ranging from surfing to steer wrestling to construction.
One of his most notable traits is his love for horses and how getting into them vastly improved his life style and opened job opportunities and recreation use he otherwise couldn't get into.His first wife who he married when he was going to school at the age of twenty,got him into horses.
He got into doing a lot of interesting things with them such as steer wrestling, training and later on in his life recreational use such as trail riding. He also found it very therapeutic for whenever he was in a bad mood he would just go down and spend time with the horses.
When he first started out he would go out,with his wife and just spend time with the horses. After a short period of time he started riding therefore;
He caught on rather quickly and he found that riding was an enjoyable way to spend his time. He went on to work at a ranch. He rode around and made sure everything was okay and checked for trespassers. His job required him to carry a gun. He never ran into trouble and he found to just ride around open area and look around very enjoyable.
He worked at the ranch for quite some time and also assisted in herding cattle giving him more pay and it opened doors to new things.
While he was working on the ranch he and some other people working there would steer wrestle. First learning how to ride led him to steer wrestling It first started out as the only way to get to work on a animal to brand them. They would have to do it quickly in order to meet a quota for the day. Two riders get the street between the two horses and one of the riders jumps off and onto the steers head and wrestle it to the ground. In competition you are judged by how quickly you can get the head to the ground, a quick time is 4 seconds. He was in the rodeo for one and a half years doing steer wrestling. He didn't make much money doing it but he enjoyed it a lot.
In addition to steer wrestling he learned to train and show Quarter horses and Appaloosas he made a lot of money doing it training a lot of champion show horses. He got into it as a very profitable way to make money and it was also something he knew he would enjoy doing.
One horse in particular, Sky Chief a Appaloosa which he bought for $14,000 and four years later after showing him sold him for $42,000 even though he could of got a lot more. The horse went on to be in a movie movie that the horse was ridden by John Wayne.
He also found it very therapeutic for whenever he was in a bad mood he would just go down and work with the horses and come back up in a better mood.
By getting into horses at a young age he was able to get into doing stuff that majorly effected his life and what her carried into doing this day. Even though he did a lot of other things he found working with horses was his favorite thing to do. The horses assists in his own health by reducing stress and helping to lower his blood pressure.