Welcome to Thanks for being here.

Very short pod that comes out every Sunday morning as Sundays are such a good time to let go of the day to day

and touch base with what matters, what will matter, and what will have mattered.

The answer to that question for me is often found in ceremonies.

I could watch strangers get married once a week and I'm even more affected by funerals sitting in a

service taking in the story of one life just another ordinary person who

they loved and who loved them.

In a way, eulogies are about the most succinct source of clarity and direction I can think of.

So I ask listeners who have lost someone dear to share their words and every week I'll read

one eulogy here so that we don't forget.

There is a point to the pain we have much to offer. We affect each other deeply and that ordinary lives are really kind of exquisite when you look at them closely.

This is thanks for being here. Today's thanks for being here is extra great. It's written by a woman named Carter about her mother who sounds pretty spectacular.

I'm Carter and the only position of authority with which I can speak is, as my mother might say, as her baby love

child.

Several people have said to me, thank you for sharing your mother with us.

If you had any idea of the intensity, the downright

ferocity of her love for her children, you would understand when I say no, thank you.

It took all of you multitudes of other friends boards

events a generation of children and a Baltimore size challenge to dilute my

mother's love to a manageable level.

She was my biggest fan and greatest advocate,

but she was also the matron of honor in my wedding and my choice blessing.

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