But sometimes you manage to somehow get a good-sized bite out of the bear’s ass in return. I am pleased to report, for any of you that haven’t seen the news in her journal, that Kenihiko has arrived safely back in Michigan. More importantly, in a strange turn of events, her stepdad picked her and Nick up from the bus, and the person that was taking up space in her Mom’s house, making it so that there was not enough room for her and Nick to stay, has ended up leaving suddenly…for , err, incarceration. Heh. So Kenihiko’s mom has told her she can stay as long as she needs to until she can get back on her feet. Let hallelujahs and huzzahs be sung by one and all… The mechanics, karma, and irony of all of this are all just strange beyond contemplation, but the important thing is that she and Nick are safe and warm for the approaching winter, and she can now start rebuilding her life.

As I said to her in her journal, it all reminds me of the opening line of my favorite movie:

“The strangeness of this life cannot be measured…”

Many many thanks to all of you who have been so supportive to her and me both during this trying frustrating period. It's times like this when you truly find out who your friends are and how much they mean to you. Moral support may not seem like much, but it is actually a whole lot when it's all you have. You all are the best.