Lately the world has gone topsy-turvy, with most of us hanging on for dear life. Amidst all the blame when things go terribly wrong, one individual always gets a Mulligan: Mr. Murphy, of Murphy’s Law fame. In honor of St. Patrick’s Week, here’s a look at a scoundrel hiding in plain sight. Be warned: He’s hard to get rid of.
As a kid, I loved to visit my Aunt Beth. The walls of her kitchen were covered with cheerful things: painted shamrocks, family photos, palm-frond crosses, little knick-knacks, hanging mugs. I was especially fascinated by the wooden plaques with silly quotes, bar jokes, and household “rules.” I read them all as I ate ice cream bars and slices of pie while the grownups talked endlessly in the living room. One of my favorites, which also hung in my dad’s mechanic’s garage, said: “Murphy’s Law: If Anything Can Go Wrong, It will!”
“Who’s Murphy?” I asked my aunt. “Don’t know,” she said, stabbing out her cigarette in a Hotel Syracuse ashtray. “But we’re related to him.”
I’d never heard of anyone in our family named Murphy. Maybe my aunt meant we were related because we were Irish—weren’t we all genetically linked to the Kings of Ireland? (That’s what my mom always told me, so I grew up thinking I was some kind of princess.) I imagined that Mr. Murphy looked like one of those cartoonish characters on the plaques. Tweed cap, happy-go-lucky, maybe a bit of a schemer. Brandishing a shillelagh or a golf club.
Being a kid, I quickly forgot about Mr. Murphy and his law. Until I went to college. I wasn’t the most organized student, but somehow I made it through (no thanks to Murphy). So. Many. Deadlines. Then I headed to New York to become an editor.
I had the good fortune to work with many amazing writers. The majority, I soon learned, were also related to Mr. Murphy. Crashed computers, typhoid fever, double broken arms, visiting in-laws, sick pets, sick kids, home office floods, revision emails that never arrived, fabulous safaris to Africa that couldn’t be canceled—you get the idea. I sympathized, I really did. The writerly universe was a scary place.
When I became an author myself, Murphy’s truth was even more self-evident. I’ve never gone on safari (a big nope for me—what could go wrong there?). But writerly disasters found me like the heat-seeking missiles in Top Gun. Curses on you and yours, Murphy! May you not be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
I did a little research on our family tree. Aunt Beth was wrong. We’re not related to any Murphys. Unless you go way, way back to those kings. Turns out the first official reference to Murphy’s Law (yes, there really was a Capt. Edward Murphy, Jr.) was in a 1950s scientific journal.
The story involved a group of bickering engineers at what later became Edwards Air Force Base. (Yes, somehow Chuck Yeager managed to blast Murphy’s Law and break the sound barrier there.) The engineers were testing how much gravitational force a human being could withstand, using a rocket sled and a bunch of sensors. Unfortunately all the results registered zero—the sensors had been attached backwards by Capt. Murphy’s assistant. The disgusted Murphy became famous for his comment: “If there’s any way these guys can do it wrong, they will.”
Eventually, variations of Murphy’s Law ended up on a plaque at West Point as well as in Irish American kitchens. Do any of these Murphy-isms sound familiar?
*Everything takes longer than you expect.
*Nothing is as easy as it looks.
*If there is a worst possible time for something to go wrong, that’s when it will go wrong.
*If something could have gone wrong but didn’t, in the long run it would have been better if it had gone wrong.
*If you criticize a typo in someone else’s work, one will show up in yours. (This is actually Muphry’s Law, and yes, it’s misspelled on purpose!)
*If only 10 things can go wrong and you prepare for them, an 11th will show up and go wrong.
*Murphy was an optimist.
Aunt Beth is in heaven now. I bet she’s having a drink with that boyo Murphy right now. And I’ve asked her to inform him that Everything is Going Just Swell Down Here. Just in case, here’s a quote from my kitchen:
Happy St. Paddy’s Week to All!!!
Readers, have YOU had any run-ins with Mr. Murphy lately? Lisa’s Aunt Beth will have a word with him.
Chicks on the Case 
Oh my goodness, Lisa. It feels like Mr. Murphy has taken up residence with my family for the past few months. Since November, a niece and a brother in law passed away. Older kiddo broke a bone in their foot which led to needing to be off work for a month. Then Nancy ended up in the hospital for an infection related to a kidney stone. And those are just the highlights. I’m ready for Mr. Murphy to move on.
But you know what? It’s going to be sunny and in the 60s today, so hope is alive. Sláinte!
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That’s the spirit, JC! I am so sorry for all you and your family have been through lately. Hang in, and enjoy that sunshine!! (Murphy is partial to rain, but those UV rays will drown him out.)
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Eek, JC. Hoping that Murphy goes away from your household soon!
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I have run-ins with Mr. Murphy on a semi-regular basis. And yes, he was an optimist. LOL
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He’s a pint glass half empty sorta guy, Liz!
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Lisa, I love reading the genesis of this expression! It’s hard to believe it doesn’t go back further than the 1950s. Yes, Murphy has visited our house many a time, but I’m conditioned by a saying from the Jewish side of my family: “Expect the worst and you’ll never be disappointed.” 🤣
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That’s the kind of internal saying I had before taking a test, El. 😉
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LOL, Jen!
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Ha, El! The Irish saying is the opposite approach: “Don’t borrow trouble.” Of course, it’s my fave thing to do. Maybe that’s why I’m a mystery author.
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Oops, my reply posted under Jen’s reply–sorry! But a PS that I think the actual incident happened in the late 40s, it just didn’t move past military personnel until later.
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Thanks, Lisa! I much prefer the Irish blessing over Mr. Murphy’s visits. The other day, I went to the post office to mail off a book, and really, I shouldn’t have left the house. Travel to and from took longer than usual because of jaywalking pedestrians, cars trying to cut me off, and bicyclists deciding to ride in my path even while I had the green light. And, of course, when I got to the post office, there was a big ol’ line. At least the book is on its merry way–I hope!
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All’s well that ends well, Jen! But truly frustrating in the meantime, especially for a busy author and mom. And yes, it seems Murphy rolls in nauseating waves–he loves it, the way I don’t love roller coasters.
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Estimate how long a project will day. Then double it and go to the next higher unit. Think it will take 5 minutes? It will take 10 hours.
My family had some books that collected the various Murphy’s Laws when I was growing up. And I had a page a day calendar a time or two.
Then I wonder where I get my pessimism.
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Ooo! I want that page-a-day calendar, Mark! (I always had one on my desk at work, except they were usually Far Side cartoons or always-appropriate quotes from The Office. I used to scribble my daily to-do bullets on it and then just transfer them all to the next day’s page.
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I actually had a page-a-day calendar that was made just for that! It had about eight lines with checkboxes next to each one. I would buy that again in a heartbeat if I could find it!
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Yes!!!! Much more satisfying than iPhone Notes. (I also used to doodle on the pages during phone calls ha.)
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everything is behind Murphy for me right now.
bleh
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If anyone can fend off that ratfink Murphy, it is our dear friend and author Hestia!
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Really hope Mr. Murphy leaves you alone soon, Hestia!
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Wow, I didn’t know the story behind Murphy’s Law–thank you for sharing. Fascinating. Also love your sign, so cute. 🙂
Happy ☘️☘️☘️ everyone!
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I have starting collecting those cheerful little signs, Cynthia. Aunt Beth’s Irish eyes smile down every time I add a new one. Can’t wait to see you soon in Den-vah!
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Such a great post, Lisa–I love the story of Captain Murphy and the origin of the saying! (And like Ellen, my first thought was, “It only started in the ’50s?!” So it was pretty new when I first heard it.)
And I tend to go with El’s family’s saying of expecting the worst. Which can drive Robin nuts, especially when I’m watching a sporting event (lookin’ at you, 49ers).
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I am a sunny optimist and don’t necessarily expect the worst. That said, I always—always—have Plans B, C, D, and E ready to deploy as necessary when Mr Murphy shows up. Interesting post, Lisa!
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Totally works lately for the Pats and Red Sox, sigh. Murphy does the Papelbon Jig at centerfield.
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Lisa, as authors, we know manuscripts always take way longer to write than we expect. I suspect Murphy is involved. I love your kitchen sign. My mom has one in her kitchen of Garfield the cat that says, “Diet is die with a ‘t’!”
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