The Worst of the Worst day of my Life!
I remember driving to the Funeral home with Ron to see Ryan’s body just before his cremation.
Just the two of us, Ryan’s mom and dad. His parents. That’s all we were to anyone that day. As we entered a cold storage room, I remember thinking to myself,
“How could they be so insensitive to have let us spend our very last moments with our little boy in such an unfriendly, frigid environment?”
All there was was a child-sized makeshift, cardboard coffin. It stood solitary in the middle of a room. It was a stark reminder of how Ryan died in the car. Alone. Seeing the box screamed there would be no more talks, hugs, and laughter from our little Ry-Ry.
We both gasped and crumbled. I have to admit it was surreal and unbearable that our little boy’s body was inside a cardboard box.
We cried out to God,
“What kind of love is this that you would rip him out of our hearts as if he’s better off with you?” He’ll tell you himself, he’s better off with us.
Some of you are wondering, “How much of him was left after the fire?” Do you really think we opened that cheap container? All we could do was cry and say goodbye to the little boy in the box. The only one more damaged than Ryan was me.
All is lost!
ryan’s mother
All over the world, scouts are shouting their version of the motto. Personally, I prefer the Armenian translation: Always Prepared, Elevate Yourself and Others with You. 
This time, we took our three boys and Ryan’s backpack, to be as close to a complete family as humanly possible.
We came to promote our film, Our BackPack, but also to support the array of talented people who have put together over 266 films. When they hit the mother lode, and I believe some of them will, the Press will call them “overnight successes,” or “surprising new finds.” But I assure you, from one who has worked hard for several years, to produce a TV show and movie, nothing about success happens overnight!
Check out our Websites: Ourbackpack.com, Ryanshines.com, Ourboysintheworld.com. and you can catch a preview of our shows on YouTube under ‘dawn hirn.’
The image of damage! Poor Texas. They were hit hard by storms and rain. Lots of rain.
when you are faced with a dilemma greater than you can handle. Place yourself within the spiral. Is your focus on the quagmire of the inner circle – or do you start with your own chaos and head out to the edges to help others?
When you see a need, lend a hand. Upward and Outward!
And God, Bless Texas!
We couldn’t wait to show the kids this amazing city, which I had visited when I lived in Italy years ago. Someone once said: “The only absolute in life is change.” Venice had become commercialized. Many of the natives had become restless during the floods and ‘floated on out of the city,’ while those who stayed endured the pop up souvenir shops and carts.
The charming structure of the city still stands, but it was difficult to find much less talk with anyone who actually lived there.
Of course when push came to shove, some of us still chose America’s Soft Drink over Chinotto or San Pellegrino. Coca Cola runs in our veins!
Families and friends came out of their cubbies to be together, looked through home made solar viewing contraptions (Fruit Loop and Bisquick boxes) and in a single moment of time, nature took precedence over Pokemons.
Dawn Raymond Hirn 