Ding's new boyfriend.

I'm having a problem with this one. I suppose it's because I'm protective of Ding given I've known her since she was a toddler. I know that this day would eventually come but it's still a quite a shock. Thank goodness my nieces aren't in high school yet.

What it comes down to is that I really want the best for her...some kid destined for medical school, or an Heir of some kind....in other words, this guy better live up to some incredible standards. At the least, this chump better be kind, smart, ambitious, hard-working, respectful, loyal, and most of all, treat Ding like a fricken Princess. If not,...well, that's the problem I suppose. If it doesn't work out, or ends terribly with alot of emotional pain involved, she'll have to work through it and learn from it...that's life. We can't protect her from that.

Not all relationships work out...and by God, definitely not most firsts. If I can give her one bit of advice, here it is: your first relationship can be the most brutal. It seems as if you live and die with the ups and downs of your first romance. But DON'T be fooled,...youth has a way of MAGNIFYING everything. And Life is way too short to live in misery...so if it's not working out (ie. you feel unhappy, pressured, overwhelmed, smothered)...GET OUT. If it's impacting your relationship with your family and friends, the quality of your school work, or even your health (emotional and physical) then you got a problem. TALK TO SOMEONE...fer crist sake, we've all been through it!...allow your loved ones to support you.

Well, that's all I have to say. I truly wish her well.