Gone in a flash: Our new digital camera is off to college in upstate New York—and in Japan!

Our son told us that the camera in the lab was dreadful, and that he needed a good camera to document his physics projects. How could we refuse?

Furthermore, if all goes according to plan, our favorite Physics major and Japanese minor will be taking the camera with him when he leaves for Japan for a six-week summer course in Japanese scientific and technical terminology.

I told my husband that the next time we see our camera will probably be August.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch house, it looks as if mom and dad here are stuck with the cheapies again. Oh, well, easy come, easy go. I can think of far worse ways to lose a good digital camera.