Twenty-nine hours on the road in a new Camry -- a labor of love.

[Bertha Venation]

My 21-year-old nephew, whose life isn't quite solid or figured out yet, had a very bad break-up with his girlfriend. He was living in Michigan, and needed to get far away from that situation. He was in a state of emotional torture with that woman and needed out, and fast.

On Saturday, Mrs. V. and I were at the Toyota dealer when we got the call we'd been expecting for a couple of months. We'd promised to go and get him, and this was the day. As soon as the deal was complete, we went home, tended to the cats to be sure they'd be ok without us for a while (extra food and water, scooped boxes), threw a few things in a bag and hit the road.

We drove straight through, Southern Maryland to Grand Rapids, Michigan, stopping only for peeing and food. We left at about 5:00 PM and got there at 6:00 AM. After some serious huggage and loading his things into the car, we went to Denny's for breakfast and hit the road again. We got home at 8:30 last night.

Tory will spend a few months with us. He'll work and save some money, and sometime next year will go home to California. He dreams of a degree in kinesiology and becoming a sensei. We'll do all we can to help him achieve his goals.

In our family, this is what we do. We help each other without question. I know that we are not the only family who does this.

[Sanity Claws]

1. I admire your sense of family

Not everyone has this kind of family. I'm glad to hear that not only do you have a good family, you actively do things to make sure everyone in the family is taken care of.

[Bertha Venation]

3. Thanks, sanity. The way I see it, though,

is that there's nothing admirable here. Is it admirable when people do something that they're compelled to do by love and commitment?

[HopeHoops]

2. He's certainly young enough to do both. My wife's a 3rd degree blackbelt - didn't start until 40.

She teaches from pre-school through all levels up to and including her own.

[Bertha Venation]

4. And I believe that he will do both.

I hope he focuses on the kinesiology degree first.

Way to go, Mrs. Hope!!

[HopeHoops]

6. She just got home from teaching karate and looks tired. I'm thinking she needs a back rub.

You can do both at the same time. My daughters were all three honors students and got their 2nd degree black belts while in high school. She teaches kindergarten all day (M.S. here) and teaches karate at night. My middle daughter runs the demonstration team now. It's good physical training, but the discipline and focus are perhaps more important.

[MrMickeysMom]

5. That's the best story I have read about today...

... as you can imagine, there are many that are NOT that way.

You get what you give... May that happen!

[madinmaryland]

7. You and Mrs. V are wonderful people! nt

[bigwillq]

8. I wish him well.

He is lucky to have you (and Mrs. V) in his life. I hope he appreciates the help and support you are giving him.