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 a bat mitzvah toast, a eulogy, or

retirement speech. We believe this is probably 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 and need to bring closer, someone you want to feel

your appreciation or admiration or both.

This is thanks for being here.

Today's thanks for being here is from Christine Burke.

Christine says last night I was joined by over 100 people to watch and celebrate my investiture as a superior court judge in Sonoma County, California. I've been a

lawyer for almost 30 years and was elected to the bench in March 24, my 85-year-old father,

along with his three brothers and their spouses and their children,

plus friends from my distant past, my professional journey, and my recent non-work-related activities,

all came together.

It was a funny, moving ceremony, and by the end there were not many dry eyes in the courtroom.

That said, and without a doubt, the speech that got the strongest

emotional reaction was the one given by my 19-year-old son, Tyler. He intentionally did not

preview the speech with me. His poise and thoughtfulness did not surprise me, but the content

almost made me ugly cry. I contained myself just a tad because I had to follow him with a speech of my own,

which was not an easy feat. So here's Tyler's speech to mark the occasion of his mother,

Christine M. Burke, becoming a judge in the Superior Court of Sonoma County, California.

Good afternoon. For those of you who don't know me, I'm

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