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.

This week's Thanks for being here comes from a guy named Peter Bidstrup. He says hi there.

I'm submitting this eulogy of my dad in the interest of sharing goodness. He died on the 4th of July

last summer. I was on a hike while visiting my son in Montana. I was out of cell range. I saw

sunbeams and beautiful clouds, and I said I think dad just died. When I got cell service, it was

confirmed. When I lost my wife to cancer at age 49, eight years ago, something similar happened.

I'm glad at times that science can't explain these things. Here it is.

I was on a hike in Montana near the Blackfoot River when I learned of dad's passing.

It was morning and in time, the clouds and sun combined in a way that created those

cascading sunbeams framed above the river and mountains. I said to my buddy Chris, I think my

dad just passed away. Indeed, when I got back into cell range, he had so a ghost. He had a couple

favorite quips. So it goes, which he borrowed from Kurt Vonnegut. He'd say that line when things

in life didn't go quite as expected, which was often. He said it, though in a way of acceptance

rather than resignation. Figure it out became a real catchphrase of his. I think he used this as

a way to encourage people to learn for themselves. He may also just not have known the answer.

He had a way of laughing at himself. Like all of us, he did his best to make his way in this crazy

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