RJ - Thanks for your post. There is one thing no one has given thought to--or at least expressed. That is to pray for Brian. It may sound foolish to non believers, but I still have an overall belief in the words of the hymn "He's got the whole world in His hands". Our characters, and who we are as persons, are still being shaped. And prayer seems a good alternative to threats. I find it quite easy to do this for Brian, for without getting into any human failures he may have, persevernce is not one of them. So, I am putting him and this whole thing on my prayer list, and foolish as it may seem, the gist of my prayer is "Thy will be done". Waitedg