Hi Nick,
It is Dad. It has been a little while since I last wrote to you. I wanted to write tonight because it is Veteran's Day weekend and I wanted you to know how proud I am of you. It doesn't matter whether you are sitting here at home with me, located half way across the world on some ship like your buddies Austin Baker and Steven Torowus, or hanging out with God up in heaven, you are never far from me and my thoughts.
This month and the next two weeks will be a little sad without you here. But it would be that way even if you were on a ship away from home as well. Obviously we all miss you and wish you were here. I miss that wonderful Nick Murphy smile and laugh.
I found out that Sacred Heart Church downtown and right across the street from my office has a daily mass everyday at lunch at 12:05 for all of the downtown workers. I decided to go this week. It is a beautiful church. Every day I look up at Jesus on the cross and picture you up in Heaven hanging out with Him. Just like the little girl in the book "The Shack" was hanging out playing with Jesus. It gives me great comfort to know that you are okay and have made it to Heaven. I cannot wait to see you again.
In the meantime, I want you to know that everyone is doing as well as can be expected. This week was Alec's 22nd birthday and we had a great dinner for him at Alexander's steakhouse. You would have loved it. We face-timed Grant at law school. He is doing well and will be home in another couple weeks for Thanksgiving break. Since it is no-shave November, he is rocking the beard. Laney is still dating Peyton and looking more beautiful than ever. Her and Mom are inseparable. Mom and I are hanging in there too. Still have our rough days, but we are good. Thankfully we have each other as well. Alec and Jhonny are getting a tattoo next Friday in your honor. That should be interesting. I will send you pictures afterwards. It probably won't be as cool as the tattoo Mom and I got though.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know how much I love you and how proud I am of everything you have done and everything you are doing. It took a lot of guts to join the Navy and try to become a Navy SEAL. It took a lot of bravery to push Breona out of the way and save her life. It took a lot of sacrifice to save five other families with your organ donations. I am very proud of all of it Nick. Mostly I am just proud of the man you have become. Mom and I could not have asked for anything more.
I keep this poem "Death Is Nothing At All" on my desk so I can remind myself each day that you are near. It is a good way to live. No matter where you are, I know you are near. Here is a copy for you to read.
Death Is Nothing At All
By Henry Scott-Holland
Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.
Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
Until that day that we see each other again, keep doing what you are doing Nick and we will keep pushing forward in your honor with the Nicholas J. Murphy Foundation. Thank you for your service Nick. You make all of us so very proud.
Good night. I love you.
Dad
