This is all about family…my own and Toyota’s.

Let’s start in 2003 when my wife, Sumei, and I were preparing to move from Massachusetts to Florida. But before leaving, Sumei’s oldest daughter was to be married. She didn’t have a reliable vehicle so, as a wedding gift, I presented her with my 2001 Camry. After relocating, we needed to replace the Camry; we’d already decided to go with a sport-utility vehicle, so we bought a new 2003 Highlander.

A couple of years later, the second-oldest daughter needed some reliable transportation, so she called Mom and Dad for advice. We’d loved our Camry, so we suggested just that and she got a 2006 model. During this time, the third daughter took a part-time job at a (what else?) Toyota dealership in Massachusetts and bought a 2006 Corolla. Last year, when the eldest daughter learned she was going to have a baby, she and her husband purchased a 2007 4Runner.

After our fourth and youngest, a son, was accepted to graduate school in Colorado, I said to my wife, “the Highlander would be the best thing.” So, yes, we loaded it up and drove to Colorado, then transferred the Highlander to him. Once again we needed to replace a vehicle, so back to our local Toyota dealer we went. This time was a little different; we chose a 2007 Highlander and also picked up a 2007 4Runner.

By the way, before I got married I owned a 1988 4Runner and put 105,000 miles on it. We just love our Toyotas!

Jefre Congelosi

Cape Coral, Florida

P.S. The kids all have their own cars now, so maybe my wife and I can keep our new Toyota vehicles for a little while, you think?