Hi, everyone. Welcome to Thanks for being here. A short, weekly pod to remind us of the many essential and beautiful ways we affect one another.

Every Sunday, I'll read a submission from a listener of Kelly Corrigan Wonders. Could be wedding vows or about mitzvah toast, a eulogy or retirement speech.

We believe this is the loveliest way to tap into our better selves and remember our highest values.

We encourage you to share this podcast each week with one person you love. Maybe someone you miss or need to bring closer.

Someone you want to feel your appreciation or admiration or both. This is Thanks for being here.

Hi, guys. This week's Thanks for being here comes from a dad named Tim Vasquez from Arizona.

And he said, Hi, Kelly, my wife and our huge fans. I think my wife has read or listened to everything you have put out there. Thank you.

You have the amazing ability to connect with us as individuals, even though you are speaking to millions of people.

Julie wanted me to send these two attachments to you. They weren't exactly speeches, but they marked times of huge transitions in our lives when we sent our boys off to their respective colleges.

Thank you for your consideration and for all you do for so many. Tim, Julie, you're more than welcome.

The joy is in the journey, not the destination is such a nice saying. It sounds good.

Although for us type A goal oriented individuals deep down. We think, no, it's not. It's really all about the destination.

At least that's what I thought until three days ago.

Camden graduated from high school two weeks ago, and we all made it through with surprisingly few tears. It was such a happy time.

But three days ago he and I set out to drive to Oregon where he is playing in a summer baseball collegiate league for two months set up by his coaches at University of San Diego.

What a great opportunity.

We had our three day drive planned out with stops in San Diego, Palo Alto, Eugene, all on our way to Portland.

Portland was our destination. Oh, and raising a confident, self reliant young man who could live on his own was our other destination.

The water works began as we said goodbye to Julie and Cody in our garage by Camden's Jeep packed with all of his belongings and enough wood bats to hopefully last all summer.

As Julie squeezed her little boy tightly tears ran down her cheeks and we all got really emotional.

It had been building in Julie and it was all hitting her now.

We said our goodbyes and hit the road. I was doing pretty well at this point. My goodbye was a few days away.

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