Teenage Block Party
Yesterday Noah and I were driving in the neighborhood across the railroad tracks from us to go to the library. We turned down our usual street only to find it blocked by tables and chairs and a big “Celebration Here” sign. There were balloons and streamers and it looked like a lot of food. There were port-a-potties, too, so I figured they were expecting a crowd.
“Weird,” I thought. “It must be a wedding or something but I wonder how they got permission to close a whole street down?”
We turned around and when we drove by the other end we saw another sign that read, “Murphy Shurig Party Here”. I realized that it was a party in honor of a 13-year old boy who was found unconscious at the bottom of a local pool last week. His friend didn’t notice he was down there and neither did the lifeguards. When they finally got him up, he was rushed to the hospital. By the track where I run, there are a lot of signs painted on bed sheets. They say things like, “Murphy Shurig family, you are in our prayers.” Or “Michael, our hearts are with you.” I didn’t know this boy or his family but you know how it is once you have a kid of your own; it all hits so close to home. Anyway, I was relieved to see that they were having a party.
I came home and told Brett about the signs and said that I thought Michael must be doing ok and maybe he was home now. Brett said he heard that he was off life support but didn’t think he was home yet. Still, off life support, that’s cause for celebration.
Today on the front page of the Metro section of the Sunday paper is a big article about the party. It turns out that it was a celebration but it was a memorial in honor of Michael Murphy Shurig, who died on Thursday.
“There was no better way to remember him,” said his mom.
I guess I don’t have anything to say about this but I wanted to write it down.
I KNEW MURPHY AND HIS PARENTS MIKE AND SUE. I WAS MURPHYS BABYSITTER FOR MANY YEARS. HE LEFT ME TO GO TO SCHOOL WHEN HE WAS 4. I READ ABOUT HIS DEATH IN THE PAPER AND WAS IN SHOCK. I KNEW THIS HAD TO BE THE MURPHY I KNEW CAUSE THERE ISNT ALOT OF KIDS NAMED MURPHY SHURIG. HE WAS A WONDERFUL LITTLE BOY AND FROM HIS DAD HE DID NO WRONG. HE WAS THE ONLY CHILD AND I CANT EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH. HE WAS WELL LIKED BY EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM.
THANK YOU,
KATHY PARKER
Murphy Shurig was my only cousin. We are two months apart and we were always very close. This young man was so unbelievabally energetic and caring. He was a true angel and he will always be in my heart.
Caroline Shruig
I knew Murphy as well. I grew up with him, as well as Aaron, Matt, Greg, Eamon, Brett, we were all good friends and it was a pleasure to say i knew him, and a honor to say i was friends with him. Thank you for the memories Murphy, I will always love you.