Food for Thought...Vol VIII

Have You Seen Matt Mullaney?

This is an amazing case of love, heartache, and inspiration.... I didn't write it expecting anyone that I know to come forward with information, though if you do??? Please let me or the authorities know. Enjoy the read... BL

Matt was born in 1981 and comes from Patriots Territory, New England, he was enrolled in a modest college in Connecticut and has a very loving family. According to his family, Matt was a very skilled still artist and has a deep love for performance art as well. He is noted as being a kind, loving, son and brother, as well as liked by many of his peers.

After two years in college, Matt with the help of his parents, decided to take a semester abroad to take his art a bit more seriously. In January of 2003 he left his home and took a long flight to Florence, Italy to attend the Angel Academy of Art. There he was to study with the greats. To even be accepted in a program at Angel Academy is an honor.

While in Florence this young man struggled a bit, as he was quoted saying that "There is always a lot of criticism, but never any praise." He knew that even though he was fighting with such criticism, that all would not be lost... He was learning more there than anywhere he had been previously, and understood that he wasn't there to have an easy ride. The program was meant to challenge him as an artist, not gain him praise from his instructors.

On the evening of January 31st, 2003, Matt went out for a few beers at the Lions Fountain Irish Pub, where he would frequently see other American students and relate to them. Its always nice to have a familiar voice...

According to the staff, his behavior was normal and he was chatting with other students in the bar while there. At 2:30am he left – the staff not sure if he was alone or had connected with others outside the pub. That was the last anyone has seen or heard from Matt.

There have been sightings of Matt throughout Florence, Amsterdam, and Ireland as late as 2004, and his family has a strong belief that he is still alive. Matt did have his wallet, his ID, his credit cards, though he had left his passport behind in his apartment. Matt's family, has been back and forth to Europe almost a dozen times over the years to assist in the search for they're child, and have always stayed in constant contact with the authorities even to this day.

His family feels as if he had let time slip away from him while on a slight trip to Amsterdam with friends. It had been a trip that he had been looking for for quite a while, and he knew that he needed it. They feel that in this time slip, that he had lost his school eligibility, and now he might be a bit too embarrassed or ashamed to reconnect with them. Whatever the case for the slip, the family doesn't much care... They just want to know that their son is alive and well. They love him unconditionally as all families should. They want to welcome him back with open arms, and to tell him that all is forgiven for whatever may have occurred, and most importantly they want him to know that his place in the family belongs only to him and there there is no fill for it... He is the individual, their son and brother, their artist, their heart.

As far as the circumstances behind Matt Mullaney's disappearance, I know that there can be no certainties, but the fact that there is so much hope within the family is amazing. Though there is an immeasurable loss in this story, there is a lot of admiration that can be given to the family for the way that they have continued to pull together and maintain such faith in the ability of their child.

Personally I understand the feeling that Matt may have had if he had opted to leave on his own. I have often times through the years just wanted to get away, leave the world behind as I knew it and start fresh. I have been the son, brother, and family member that has disappointed those closest to me. Sometimes the feelings of hopelessness and despair have overcome any amount of positivity that I have had in my life. I think that we have all felt that way at times.

I have a lot of empathy for the pains and tribulations of this young man, and a lot of sympathy for his family and friends. I personally have a feeling of loss for all that are involved. There are families throughout this world that face things like this daily at this time I'd like to wish them all the best and let them know that today, there is another person praying for them. I want to ask all that read this the same. Have empathy for the man with fear, and sympathy for those that have to live in the wake of his absence.

All that being said, I wish you all a wonderful day, and be kind to each other... Try to live in the moment with those closest to you and show your loved ones how much you truly love them... Be unconditional with those that bring you joy, as you can see in this situation, and many like it... There may never be a tomorrow.

Until next time, I hope you enjoyed this bit of Food for Thought...