It’s Been Fun

Sue Murphy

The time has come,” the walrus said, “to talk of many things … .” Not too many. I mean, I only have 600 words, but I’ll do my best to make them count.

I have to leave this space. I hate it, I do, and do not admonish me for saying “hate.” I know it’s a strong word, but “dislike” just does not cut it right now. I’m going through some medical challenges and rather than wait until my columns drift off into chemo-brain nonsense, I’ve decided to leave “Murphy’s Law” on a high note. I’m going for a C sharp, but you be the judge. 

First of all, I want to thank you, thank you for showing up, thank you for listening, thank you for sending me encouraging words that always hit just when I needed them. You’ve been a friend and a confidant, there when my life was light and funny and when it was not, and I will be forever grateful.

With my last few words (Yikes, I’m already down to 425), I want to offer you a few nuggets of wisdom I’ve picked up along the way. 

Let’s start here: etui, aloe, Utah, Ono. Those are for your crossword puzzles. They won’t fill in the whole grid, but go for words with lots of vowels and you’ll do fine. 

If you’re completely stumped on a multiple choice test, pick C. It looks like you at least read the question. However, in the event that you’re offered “all of the above” or “none of the above,” it’s probably one of those. Which one? I don’t know. Sorry about that.

Other answers? Yes. Yes, I can. Yes, I’d love to. Yes, please, with sprinkles. (That is my favorite.)

Sometimes, of course, the better answer is no. No, thank you. No, sorry, I can’t. (It’s always best to be polite.) But, when someone has crossed the line of decency, do not shrink from a curt, “No, absolutely not!” And remember: do not be afraid to be right all by yourself. 

Here’s a biggie: Forgive each other. We’re a mess. We’re all a mess, but hanging onto your injuries doesn’t fix any problem and it doesn’t move anyone forward. 

Instead, hang onto the things that really matter. We live in a swirl of noise and chaos, so this can be difficult, but it’s absolutely critical that you try. And if you haven’t yet discovered what really matters, drop everything and attend to that right now. 

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone does. And when you’re unsure about which way to turn, err on the side of generosity, err on the side of kindness.

Okay, let’s review … Ono, C, yes, absolutely not … Yep, I think that’s all the answers I have. The questions? That’s the kicker. No one knows. They’ll come at you from all angles, every single day, so stay alert, stay strong, stay in the game. 

The original Murphy’s Law stated that the worst possible thing will always happen at the worst possible moment. That is true. But parallel to all that pain and frustration lie an equal number of wonderful, amazing things, so keep your eyes open and gather them in with both hands. 

And now, like Marvin K. Mooney, it is time for me to go. It’s been fun. It really has. I wish you every good thing, my friends, a heap of love, a heap of laughter, a great big pile of joy. 

Well, look at that. I came in at exactly 600 words. Was it a C sharp? I hope so. Love you guys …