Confirmation at last!

and the whirlwind begins

Brian had to take a quick trip to Miami for just one night, so he brought me along just for fun and because I claimed it was my “birthday trip” to justify it. The night before we left, a quiet summer night with the door wide open, sitting on the porch, the Cubs game on, and the kids running around with the Packers next door, all of a sudden Brian saw that his name was on the Senate Calendar for a vote! Finally, things were in motion. We knew then that it should only be about 24 hours before the vote happened. So we left for Miami with the excitement and also relief of just knowing the waiting was almost over. Flying back the next day, we didn’t know when the vote would happen but of course we were monitoring it. Luckily we had time to land and had just gotten in the car with Sam as the voting was happening… somewhere along 294 on the way back home, it was clinched.

Watching the votes come in on the plane.

We got home mid-afternoon that Saturday, August 2 and popped some bubbly to celebrate of course! Meanwhile the calls and texts and videos of people also celebrating were pouring in. So much fun. Bridget and Hopi were in Italy with Brian’s mom, which was great that they got to celebrate together with her. They flew home Sunday and the next day, they immediately put on a pasta making class for all the kids showing off their new skills. Fresh tortellini and ravioli for dinner!

Somehow, magically, the most perfect scenario came together on Tuesday. With Brian confirmed, he could be sworn in officially as Ambassador. The Cubs owners, the Ricketts family, had generously offered to host a party for us at a game, and now they suggested we do the swearing in at the game! We had thought Brian would have to fly to DC to do it and only I would go, because it would just be too expensive to bring all the kids out, and we wanted to save to bring them all to Rome. And then it all happened so quickly and we had an incredible night at Wrigley Field. Most of my siblings and my parents were there, Pat and Mary Burch, and all the kids except Martin, Thérese and Joan, who were dearly missed.

The swearing in happened right after the National Anthem at the beginning of the game. Judge Michael Brennan, a Notre Dame grad, officiated, and our friend Father Burke Masters, who happens to be chaplain of the Cubs, gave a beautiful invocation.

For the swearing in, we used the Bible that Pat and Mary had given us for our wedding. We all got married the same year and have been through a lot of life together. So happy they could be with us for this night.

Then we got to enjoy the game and the amazing view from the suite! The only thing missing was singing “Go Cubs, Go!” at the end, but we still got to go out on the field and just soak in Wrigley for the last time in a few years. We owe the Ricketts family a huge debt of gratitude for making this night so special for our family.