Writing Gems
The eye can see and
The heart can love,
What the word cannot describe.
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Sweetie's headstone tells the story of her life, it states:
“Now the Angels have a Role Model.”
(Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills)
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It is the intent of our Tidbits, Snippets, & Gems,to pique your curiosity, stimulate your interest, and prompt you to investigate travel ideas.
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Our Travel concept includes:
If we have no schedule, we aren't late.
If we don't care where we are, we aren't lost.
If we can't see IT this trip, we'll see IT next time.
If we have no itinerary, we're just where we ought to be.
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If it wasn't for all the rain, the countryside wouldn't look nearly so nice as it will, if we ever get there when it isn't raining.
(Berchtesgaden, Germany)
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Clothes on a hanger;
Goodies in the refrigerator,
We know who used the toilet last.
That's the seal of approval for RV travel.
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Our vacation is not a destination, it's the Journey.
Turn here, explore there, relax and enjoy.
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As we ate dinner in the Chateau Lake Louise, we agreed the view from our table, of the teal blue lake, mountains, and glaciers, was the most scenic dinner view we have experienced.
I told my Sweetie, “If you think that view is spectacular, you should see the enchanting, delectable, heavenly view I see at most every meal! No you certainly are not a glacier, but wow, speaking of mountain peaks, … !“
(Lake Louise, Canada)
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I was in the Army at an IBM School in
Indianapolis, Ind. Most weekends
I went AWOL to see my Sweetie in Chicago.
Imagine my pride to see this
Beautiful Lady rushing toward me
with a beautiful beaming smile, just for me.
She said that I was so happy to see her at the station.
To be happy each time I met my beloved Sweetie
was the easiest thing I ever did.
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If we happen to be at the top of the Campanile in front of St. Mark's Cathedral when the huge bells start to ring, we must hold on to our hats, our ears, and anything else that's handy, the vibrations are awesome.
As if I needed an excuse to grab hold, and embrace my Sweetie.
When I squeeze my Sweetie I always hear bells and chimes.
(Venice, Italy)
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A picture is worth a thousand words.
A visit is worth a thousand pictures.
The video is priceless.
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People complain about the idle-rich, and the idle-poor.
The one because they are idle,
The other because they are rich.
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Remember all the time you spent on frivolous things like eating and sleeping.
When you could been hugging and kissing.
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Darling Emmy, You've always been the greatest, and always will be.
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Your spirit of adventure will be modified by your gumption for walking.
You must demand some reasonable association between effort and excitement.
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I won my Sweetie!
No Diploma or Peace Treaty would ever be worth as much as that Marriage License!
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Wouldn't you rather trust everyone all of the time
and be wrong once in a while,
than trust no one at any time, and be right once in a while.
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In an expensive restaurant, one lady leans to a lady at the next table and says,
“Settle an argument for us. Is this the London Hilton, or the Paris Hilton.”
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If you want to see an antique, just look in the mirror.
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It's amazing how many ridiculous, stupid, ignorant, inefficient, obnoxious people you will meet, when you are in a bad mood.
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We have often been asked, “What is your favorite country, what is the best place to visit?”
Our answer, “There is no best, each is unique, each has
wonderful differences.”
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We find European cities fascinating.
The people are friendly, helpful, smiling and good natured.
We see and “appreciate” the beauty, and never notice the negatives seen by the tourist who comes to “criticize.”
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How can you be that dumb, and still eat so well?
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One time I gambled and doubled my money.
The problem was, I only bet a nickel.
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A Sweetie shopping delay, was a synonym for momentary.
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Cathedrals in Europe really are very beautiful, and different to the eye.
But the English language doesn't know that.
Try to describe the Cathedrals in Bourges, France, and Milan, Italy, without using place names.
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A selective memory is a great thing.
I can't tell you much about it, since I have one, I can't remember what it is.
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For better or worse, most everybody agrees that in both its positive and its negative connotations, my word is accurate.
My word? Curious!
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At an Architectural “dig” students were finding both small items of interest, and items of small interest.
(Prague, Czech Republic; Soissons, France; and others.)
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I had an awful ache in my back, in the muscle just above my wallet. (True.)
I thought it must be from reaching for it so often.
Sweetie thinks the soreness is because my wallet muscle just hasn't been exercised enough.
(Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey)
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When Sweetie was shopping, my rule was;
“If my Sweetie wants it, I will buy it.
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Sweetie said,
“I feel much better,” and I said, “I'll be the judge of that, let me check. This may take a few minutes.”
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Sweetie was tired, grass was green, water was wet, what else is new, and she was exasperated and exhausted.
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Sweetie's gray-hairs aren't only from being out of touch with her hairdresser for too many weeks.
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I'm the RV driver, Sweetie is the cook, but cooking is the least important of her real duties.
I mean her enjoyments!
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We never got to visit the Earthly Holy Land .
But we will be in the Heavenly Holy Land together, in the near future.
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There was a good reason the steep, curvy mountain roads had no safety rails at the downhill side of the road.
There was no room for rails.
For us, this was an hour of terror, interrupted by moments of sheer panic.
(Norway, Italy, Yugoslavia, at least)
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We snorkeled among the colorful tropical fish in the Lagoon at Siapan
What colors. What form. What beauty.
And that was just Sweetie in her swim suit.
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As I sat near her Hospital bed, Sweetie said,
“This must be awful boring for you.”
I responded, “It ain't boring, you're my Sweetie.”
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Name and picture catching.
The everlasting joys of travel, an added reward for years of exploration.
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I don't remember seeing a sign.
Maybe I thought I was on a Scottish ferry and L-a-d-i-e-s spelled “Laddies.”
(Crossing the English Channel.)
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As we stood on the bridge observing river barge traffic, I said to Sweetie, “There's the Locks.”
Sweetie responded, “That's great, but where's the cream cheese and bagels?”
(lox, cream cheese, and bagels, her favorite breakfast.)
(Valentré Bridge, Cahors, France)
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The applause we heard was for my Sweetie as she descended the ladder.
Do you wonder who led the applause?
(Rothenburg, Germany)
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Our friend in France, Brigitte said,
“French people don't even like each other.”
(Nice, France)
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I would have helped Sweetie hold down her skirt, but I was busy leading the applause.
Marilyn Monroe received fame and fortune for a similar scene, but Sweetie did it best.
(Ferry boat, Seattle, Washington)
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Breathes there a man with soul so dead …
That he is not gratified by another's appreciation of his home, his city, and his country.
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Our European trips proved,
“It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want
to live there,” is not a cliché, it's the truth.
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We rented a pedal-boat for a ride on the Verdon River in France.
I pedaled just as hard as I could when I saw all the ladies “barefoot from the waist up.”
But Sweetie did the steering.
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The campground was rather new
(it looked like it),
rather isolated
(we thought),
the desk clerk was rather crabby
(of that we were sure).
(Near Honfluer, France)
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We can see and enjoy a hundred “aged” buildings, but one spotless, immaculately cleaned Cathedral will outshine them all.
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We can't imagine that a day, a mile, a night, or a word one way or another about our journeys, will have much impact on your travels.
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Curiosity as to how people live and work, is just as intelligent as the curiosity that leads to the study of the contents of an art museum.
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What is the difference between a cane and a walking stick?
Answer, “Twenty years.”
(By now, it's more like twenty minutes)
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Some of the dozen bathing beauties were so poor they could only afford half of a bathing suit, so were barefoot from the waist up.
(Island of Crete, Greece, and many other places)
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Dozens of our Tidbits, Gems and Snippets tell, indicate, hint, express, insist, and broadcast my complete, intense, deep-felt love for my Sweetie, forever.
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We must have looked like the “Leaning Tower of Humberds,” as we tilted into the wind and struggled through the fascinating village of Sperlonga, Italy.
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We have eaten lunch in our RV
on a Norwegian fjord;
beneath the Eiffel Tower;
just below the Parthenon;
within sight of the Coliseum;
within the arms of the Louvre;
across the Tiber from St. Peter's;
right next to the Brandenburg Gate;
across the street from Windsor Castle;
across the river from Le Pont D' Avignon;
with the Rock of Gibraltar out our window;
and hundreds more.
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Sweetie won the prize for best performance in the middle of the Panama Canal.
But just a hint-- I was judge, jury and participant.
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The Englishman who runs the office loves living in Italy.
I'll bet that's because he's married to an Italian
Love is everything!!!
(Bologna, Italy)
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I was sure some of the Italians weren't going anywhere.
They just liked to “participate” in this kind of line.
(Pescara, Italy, In line for Ferry Tickets to Yugoslavia)
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A trip on a ship is our favorite way to travel, except maybe for an RV trip through Europe.
But combined, both are best!
We fixed our meals and had a good night's sleep while we enjoyed our slowly-rolling, slightly-pitching campground from Italy to Greece.
(Brandisi, Italy, to Patras, Greece)
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Food is a means to an end, not an end in itself.
You should eat to travel, not travel to eat.
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Our house was turquoise with white trim
Our Plymouth station wagon was turquoise and white .
Sweetie wore a turquoise dress so often she called it her uniform.
I knew what Sweetie liked.
I painted the house, I bought the car, I selected the dress.
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A wrong turn can result in serendipity: “… the gift of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.”
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I was a “Generalist” not a “Specialist.”
I liked to do a little of this and a little of that.
If I did a job twice, I wanted it to be because I did it wrong the first time.
Not just because it was Tuesday again.
(My working days in the Computer Business)
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He followed the signs to “UMLEITUNG” for half an hour, before he discovered that “Umleitung” means “detour” in German.
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I am lucky that the only really, for real, actual, ridiculous item Sweetie ever wanted, was me.
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I pointed to the Visa Card imprinter and jokingly asked, “Antique?”
The lady laughed and said, “No, pratique.”
(Fougéres, France)
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If you cut a tree, plant a tree.
If you dig a hole, fill a hole.
When you buy a car deposit money to get rid of it years from now.
(Me, in Third Grade, mid 1930s)
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There's good news - there's a lady in the hot tub without her bra.
And there's bad news - I need one as much as she does!
(Rancho, Mirage, CA)
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Linda asked, “Since I was born in Dallas, does that mean
I am a Texan?”
I replied, “If you were born in a barn would that mean
you are a cow?”
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It is just as important to know what you are against, as it is to know what you are for.
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The Italian said,
“We are not well organized. We do a great job of designing and building, but have yet to hear about maintenance.”
Mt. Etna smoked in the distance, no maintenance needed
(Catania, Sicily, Italy)
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Italy is crowded with beautiful, friendly, congenial people who welcome us, confuse us, charm us, disturb us, enrapture us, discombobulate us, and ensure that we have a fascinating vacation.
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Our Wedding Anniversaries were celebrated in 54 different Restaurants in
Six states,
Five countries,
Three cruise ships.
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The most important rule of flea market shopping:
“Once you have 'it' in your hand, do not put 'it' down for any reason.”
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The officer then asked,
“How did you find Germany?”
I replied, “I just looked out the window and there it was.”
(German Border)
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Take half the clothes and twice the money.
Fill your suitcase with clothes from the Salvation Army, and Goodwill.
When something becomes dirty, leave it, use that space to carry items home.
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Sweetie was addicted to me, was never allergic to me.
Her name was spelled Emmy, she never expressed enmity.
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Most Countries have
“Traffic Laws and Regulations.”
Italy has
“Traffic Hints and Suggestions.”
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Watch the drivers in Paris, Berlin, or Rome, and you can see how their Armies acted and reacted during WW II.
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The Berliner drives as if the street is his, and the law says this lane goes here, and that stop-sign means they will always stop, so he pays little attention to the needs of others, he just “follows orders” and plows ahead.
(Berlin, Germany)
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When the Parisian arrives at, or causes a traffic blockage, he will not employ any initiative to solve the gridlock.
He just sits there with a pained expression on his face, waiting for someone to help him out of the mess.
(Paris, France)
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The Roman drives
as if there are no rules.
When there is a problem or a traffic jam, he smiles as if to say, “No big deal, I wasn't going anywhere anyway.”
(Rome, Italy)
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We are little 'ol friendly travelers, parked right next to this ancient medieval wall, that was built to keep out not so friendly travelers.
(Carcassonne, France, and many more)
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We celebrated my Sweetie's birthday on 12345670.
Jan 2, 2003, at 4:56.
Her 70th.
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We remember very few people who did not treat us properly, during our visits in Europe.
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During our visits to Europe we slept 968 nights, in
452 different places in
396 towns & cities, in
32 countries.
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What makes you think doing something worthless,
is better than doing nothing at all?
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The young lady would have been considered exceptionally gorgeous, even if she hadn't lost most of her swim suit.
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A clerk in a grocery or bakery in Europe, is thrilled to meet an American
A waiter and a bell hop are thrilled to get a tip.
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When someone volunteers to take your picture, make sure the photographer is elderly or handicapped, so you can outrun him and retrieve your camera, if you have trusted the wrong person.
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The last of the 768 steps in the Cathedral steeple are in a narrow circular staircase, enclosed in the lacy Gothic tower.
I was in such physical shape that when I reached the top I wasn't even breathing hard.
In fact, I almost wasn't breathing at all.
(Ulm, Germany)
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A little girl wanted to know where we lived, but when I mentioned America and California, she didn't understand.
When I said Disneyland, her face lit up and she said (through an interpreter), “If you could be in Disneyland today, why are you in France?”
(Phalbourg, France, 1983)
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A well-dressed man in the hotel said,” In America you have Johnny Cash, Bob Hope, and President Reagan. In Sweden we have no cash, no hope, and Parliament.”
(Stockholm, Sweden)
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An Italian shopping street, alive and colorful with bright window displays while the stores are open, often becomes drab and colorless after hours when they close the shutters.
(Fiesole, Modena, Parma, Sarzana, Urbino, and more.)
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Can you imagine the billions of dollars spent at McDonald's restaurants each year, by people who just stopped to use the “McDonald's.”
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The amount of renovation needed to keep buildings beautiful over the centuries, reminds us of the 100-year-old hammer that had ten new handles and five new heads.
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We've seen Berlin with and without the Wall.
Believe it, we prefer without.
(Berlin, Germany)
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The prize for the best verse was a kiss and a peacock's feather.
At least that's the only prize they mentioned.
(Les Baux., France)
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When we see these lovely old towns with beautiful homes, churches, castles, bridges, and shopping streets, we wonder, did the builders specifically design the elegance, or did they just build in the style of that day, and the beauty
“… is in the eye of the beholder.”
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The local newspaper on the Island of Truk said,
“We are caught between the Coca Cola can and the Coconut tree.”
(Federated States of Micronesian)
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We can't imagine that 500 or 1,000 years ago these buildings were designed and built to lean and bend
and hang over, but they do so, and do it elegantly.
(Dinan, France)
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Around the next curve there might be a little old lady in the middle of the road, herding two goats.
Drive as if you expect that, and neither of you will be surprised.
(Yugoslavia)
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They assured us, “There are no Italian soldiers, only Italian uniforms.”
(Italian Soldiers At McDonald's, in Rome)
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