In 2000, I invested in a Toyota van in anticipation of a decade of road trips…and the need to separate my daughters by more distance in order to be able to survive the trips. when I bought the van, I said to myself: When my daughters are out of college I will buy a Prius. I bought my first Prius in 2014 when higher education was completed and gave the van to my younger daughter. She got the title with her marriage and move to New Hampshire. Her husband-to-be showed less than required respect with the gift of the van for a dowry..

Along the way, the seat belt light started to stay on—we put black tape over it. The air conditioning had a leak that we could not find. The side door lock quit working—you could only open the door from the These are just a few of the things that went wrong while it continued to work.

The van has gone to Colorado, Yellowstone, Idaho, Manitoba, Minnesota many times, Iowa, Illinois many times, moved me to the East Coast and gone back and forth to Michigan several times. I can’t even remember all the places we have gone in the van. We have hauled rocks, lumber, piano, bikes, and who knows what in the van.

I have now given my daughter and son-in-law my blessing to give the van away to NPR. Well done good and faithful van.

We've had this van in our family since I was 7 years old. That first summer it took us cross-country from Michigan, across the Western prairies to Yellowstone, Idaho, and up to Manitoba. I'm pretty certain my mother got the van so she could separate my sister and I by an entire row in the car. Since 2000, this car has gone on other various road trips, carrying my grandfather's ashes around the northern edge of lake MI to his resting place in MN. It has also made the trek through the WV Appalachians a few times. Since moving out East, this van has managed to help me move homes 4 times, and has helped me fill and empty my classroom many times too.This van is a beloved vehicle, and it's difficult to let go of something that holds so many memories, but it's time.  All through those 21 years, this powerhouse of a vehicle has never let us down. My mother finally sold it to me last year, when I moved to NH. 

 I grew up with NPR, and my husband and I are a strong believer in supporting our local public radio and TV stations. If you can squeeze a little bit more out of this van to support NPR, then we're super happy to be able to support our station in this way. 

 Sincerely,

Karis Welsh