Alicia (is Alisha)

"Lovers, keep on the road your on

Runners, until the race is won

Soldiers, you've got to soldier

Sometimes, even right is wrong

They are turning my head out

To see what I'm all about

Keeping my head down

To see what it feels like now

But I have no doubt

One day, the sun will come out"

I wanted to come to you to write an update on Chef Mat.  I feel that I am on the verge of witnessing a miracle.  The word amongst the Nola Girls is that we can be "cautiously optimistic"...whatever that means.  For me, all I know, is I was packing my bags a week ago for a sorrowful trip, when something told me to stop, and pray, and wait instead.  To wait until I might be needed, or useful, or of service, later on.

This has been 10 days of inspiration for me.  Briefly, we had a new priest as mass last week.  Chris and I were hanging back after everyone had left (I had forgotten my purse under the pew - and we normally rush the kids out of there at lightning speed, as not to be disinvited).  The new priest was there, hanging out, and we went up to talk to him.  After the formal chatter, I asked him if he would please petition Our Father for my friend.  He asked me what was going on, and I started, with a stiff upper lip, to tell the story.  I made it through okay, until Father asked me my friend's name. 

"Mat Murphy," I whispered, as I pursed my lips, held my breath and my tears fell heavy to the floor.

Our new priest, just returned from Iraq, said, "This is terrible news about your friend, Mat, Jennie.  Let us pray together for him now."

He went on to pray for Mat:  for strength and courage for him to fight, and for his doctors, and for the blessing of health.  He prayed for Mat's friends, and for his family, that we might keep hope for him, and encourage him to recover.  He prayed for Alicia, and the daughters, that they might be comforted in the love of their friends and by our Lord.  It was a beautiful prayer, and I felt comforted too after he said it.  I will tell you, that's a nice way to meet someone.  

I have been in communication with Mat's Alicia.  Sending texts, mostly - harassing her with silly photos.  Sending hugs through my girls.  Waiting to be truly needed (which I think may be after that beautiful child arrives in August).  Alicia is so funny.  She is a truly private person, who lives out loud.  That's a graceful dance in itself!  She's had her share of hardships in her life, but she really does not talk about them.  She'd rather explain how a certain cheese tastes really good with a certain wine...or she'd rather spend her time decorating an art box for a three year old's birthday gift, instead of buying a pre-assembled one at Toys R Us (this was all back before she had four 18 month old  girls!).  Alicia is spirited and brave, happy and fun, and full of many, many exciting stories and experiences.  She has very close, ferociously devoted friends - and she is very gracious, loving, and appreciative towards them.  She is the wife of an Irishman.  She works hard to maintain her happy home, and to support Mat in the labor-intensive job that he does.  They love one another in an indescribable way, and part of me knows a little of their secret.  They are extraordinary people.

Mat is still in this fight.  His heart keeps going, despite the fact that his other organs have been overtaken by the virus.  Mike says that he knows why:  Mat is fighting to come back to Alicia.  I would too.

Again, I want to thank everyone for keeping the Murphys in their prayers, including especially those of you that are praying for a stranger. Mike and I are keeping the faith tonight.  Thank you for joining us.

Just Waiting On A Friend

It's been days of vigil here at the Burke household.  We have a sick friend.  Please pray for Mat Murphy, our dear, beloved friend from New Orleans.  It's late tonight.  I'd love to dig through my photo CDs and put up photos of Mat and us at Maple Leaf Bar, or at Monica's baby shower, where Mike and Mat played bartender and proceeded to get 3o of our friends smashed, or in his kitchen at the Ritz, where he cooked, in the kitchen, for my mom, and Alicia (his wife...and soul mate...and father of their five daughters) and Emma and Monica, or in the McGarvey's pool nearly drowning from the weight of the twenty children that were "playing" with him.  

I'd like to head to Audubon Park with the Murphys, impromptu, for some festival - where they would spread out wine and cheese before us, and laugh with the kids and dogs running wild.  

I'd like to bust into the Murphy house on Baronne, and see Mat at the table, writing a menu, with just some left-overs in the fridge.

I'd like to be with Alicia.  Mother of the World.  More babies than any of us Nola girls with the big families.  Katrina Survivor.  Quadruplet Survivor.  Woman who heard the call of true love and somehow tracked down an Irishman that she had met on her post-college world tour in a hostel via pay-phone, and went on to marry him, and live with the passion of the Irish with him.  I'd like to laugh with Alicia, and talk foodie talk, and harass waitresses, tell filthy jokes, play practical jokes and be too loud.  I'd like to go back...

...and I'd like to go forward.  To a place in time where this wonderful friend has recovered from the blood infection which has afflicted him....to a place in time where he will meet his new daughter in August, and bounce the other four on his big old legs.  To a place where we will drink, and dine, and tell jokes, and share friendship that transcends the Uptown streets where we lived, and the towns where we moved to, and the children that came to each of us since the days when our families first became friends.

Mat Murphy, and Father in Heaven, hear my prayer:  that he returns to health, and us, and the daughters, and Alicia.  We love you Mat.  We admire your strength as you fight, and we wait on you.  We wait to say Hello, again.

Friends - to support the Murphy family in this time of crisis, please contact me.  There is a fund established to help the family, and local New Orleaneans may go to Oschner Hospital to donate blood in honor of Mat.  We ALL thank you...