A Faded Man
A faded man with dulled glories from yesterday
no planning for tomorrow just living for today
fractured remembrances he can no longer view
strange faces replaced the family that he knew
memories erased from the chalkboard of his mind
leaving no recollection of the wife he left behind
Inspiration is all around us. I recently viewed (for the umpteenth time) a wonderful movie based on a book (The Notebook) from one of my favorite authors, Nicholas Sparks. It reminded me of Nancy Reagan and the sad end to President Ronald Reagan’s glorious life.
Today, coincidentally, is the thirtieth anniversary of the first meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev.
One other note: We don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to be grateful.
Keep writing.
Very nice!
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Thank you for reading.
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🙂
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I loved this. 🙂
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Thank you my dear. Not as profound as your writing. Thanks for reading.
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My pleasure, Andrew. 😀
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Thanks. Be well.
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🙂
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Nicely written.
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Thank you. You’re up early.
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It is 8:09 here. I am at work. Smiles.
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A moving and poignant read, well done.
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Aw, thank you. You have a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping by.
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Gratitude is engraved in every second/minute……of life. 🙂
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That is the way we all need to live. Treasure every moment and be grateful of what we have. Thanks for stopping by my friend.
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Beautiful! 🙂
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Thanks so much for reading.
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Very sweet. Watching a loved one fade into dementia is heart-breaking. It’s as if they disappear before your eyes. Je souffre mon coeur. (It pains my heart)
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We watched the movie the other night. My wife asked if I would read to her to remind her of our love. Started reaching for the tissues. This truly pains me too. Thank you for reading and commenting. I am so happy to know you. That post I read last night, touched me. Haven’t stopped thinking about it. Thanks for stopping by.
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It’s a pleasure to know you too!
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I love your end note. We definitely don’t need to wait for Thanksgiving to be grateful 🙂
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Thanks. We woke up today, while someone else took their last breath. We have much to be grateful for. Thank you for stopping by. Best wishes to you and yours.
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Best wishes to you and yours too 🙂
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Thanks
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Memories also start to fade away. We, ourselves are here for limited time so how can memories stay with us for forever? But we can make sure that we cherish the actual moments and then the memories as much as we can 🙂
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You are so right my friend. We must treasure every moment. Thanks for stopping by.
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You know what made that movie touch my heart, the fact that they both died together.. I wish I could be so blessed to die with my beloved 🙂 And I never knew that Reagan and ‘The Notebook’ had similarities! Lovely poem 🙂
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Thanks. The movie touched me as well. Perhaps I am the only one who feels this way, but my connection between The Notebook/Reagan comes from watching devoted spouses caring for loved ones who no longer remembered them. Thanks for reading.
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You’re absolutely right…we don’t have to wait for one day out of the year to be thankful; it should be a daily activity:) Beautiful and bittersweet poem. I can’t imagine what it is like to have a life-long partner fade away mentally:( Many say that towards the end of their life they recall wonderful memories. Must be very scary and lonely for those suffering from memory loss and their loved ones around them. My heart goes out to them.
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Nena, I almost needed a tissue after reading your response. 1) Everyday that we open our eyes in the morning we have a reason to be grateful. How many people took their last breath today? 2) Thanks for enjoying the poem. 3) I can’t imagine the agony of caring for someone who no longer remembers you. I hope none of us every experiences that. 4) Thank you for reading. Thank you for your support. I am thankful to have such wonderful followers. Take care.
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Your lovely poem evoked the same emotions for me. I, too, hope we don’t have to experience something like this and I keep those that I know are going through it in my prayers. Take care as well, dear “bluddy”:)
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Smile. You too.
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Wow.. Dementia is a mutha! Got it in one paragraph..
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Did I? Thanks so much for reading. Appreciate that.
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OK.. How’s your cooking coming on?
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Wife gets better everyday. Thanks for asking. I only enter the kitchen to eat. lol
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Haha!
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Great poem. It fits the movie so well.
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Thanks for reading. You guys are going to make me run for a box of tissues.
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Hahaha. 🙂
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That’s a very sweet way to tie it together.
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Thanks for reading.
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Such an amazingly perceptive and well written piece. Thank you for sharing it with us.
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Thank you so much.
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She always is full of grace and class. I have a multitude of things to be grateful. I keep a journal everyday to help me to remember. Thank you for writing this :-).
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Thank you for reading. I wish I could make the depressed feel what I feel. Everyone has reasons to be grateful. Life is too short to not think that way. Thanks for stopping by.
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You write what my heart tries to express. You’re amazing 🙂 💕
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Thank you for saying that. You have me blushing. You writing is amazing.
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☺️💓 🙂
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A movie that tells a true love story and makes me sob – every single time.
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No matter how man times I see it, I get a knot in my throat.
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Whenever u cry, dont wipe out tears with tissue. Wipe ur teats with ur hand, fingers. Let the skin feel the tears. I never use tissue. I think it is absurd.
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What an inspiration. Feel the tears. That is brilliant. Thanks so much, never really thought of that. Hey, thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful day.
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Beautiful poem. 💜
The Regan’s were just like my grandparents. Thank you for the reminder.
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Thanks so much. Sad the way things ended for them. Your welcome. And thanks for stopping by to read.
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Touching poem, full in its brevity. It’s not just the fading that is so painful. It’s the fracturing of heart, mind, relationships. Nothing remains the same. Those who suffer the disease forget so much. Those of us who stand by remember everything. And all of it hurts.
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Well said. I almost feel like I should give a review about your thoughtful comment. I can’t even begin to imagine how Nancy or others in this situation felt. Thank you stopping by and contributing to the conversation. I really appreciate it.
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Originally I lived in New York. Walking the city streets I feel as if I have seen every face that fits this story. It is a common story, but one that elicits many different emotions. Some just say, “what a bum.” Others wonder what story can be found gazing into their eyes. Still others want to reach out and let these people know their existence is important. This story is greatly relevant. Not only does it demonstrate societal problems this country faces, it provides opportunity to the reader to evaluate their own character based on their personal response to the character in the story.
I enjoyed it very much.
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You described New York City perfectly. Having worked in home health care for several years, I have a sense of the social problem dementia/alzheimer can pose. It is terrible for the patient and perhaps more heart wrenching for the family, Thanks for stopping by.
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Reblogged this on ' Ace Friends News ' and commented:
Nice writing again Andrew keep up the good work. 🌟
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Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
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I think that was one of the best poems I’ve read in a long time!
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Oh, my. Thank you so much. I am flattered. Thanks so much for stopping by to read. I really appreciate it.
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My pleasure!
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yeah it is much sadness,
who were closest ,
have becoms farest.
dt all depend on chance
when some happieness ,
n when some sadness…….
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Thank you so much for reading. I really appreciate it. I hope you are well.
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thanks n welcome
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RIP to all who died for us. Thanks for sharing my dear friend. X
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Thank you for reading and your thoughtful comments. Be well.
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Thank you :)x
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As the memories start to dissipate in the minds of the ones we leave behind, we do actually become more and more one with thin air. We do not feel, hurt, or have to deal with any mortal worries.
What a keen observation of a life’s post-journey.
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Even your comments are poetic. “become more and more one with thin air.” Thank you.
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🙂 you inspire!!
welcome 😀
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We don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to be grateful …
Amen, brother. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by to read. All of us have plenty to be grateful for. Take care my friend. Best to you and yours.
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What a wonderful writing! They lost their memory, but we don’t. We will remember them.
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Thanks for reading. It isn’t sad to think people we love have forgotten us because of their illness. Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate it.
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Reblogged this on Ancien Hippie.
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Thank you so much. Appreciate the gesture. Have a wonderful weekend.
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What an emotion-evoking image of Nancy. I’ll always remember her finally breaking down. My young son and I left Jelly-Bellies on his crypt.
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Isn’t it? I remember her breaking down, too. So sad. Jelly-bellies. So thoughtful. Thanks for reading. I really appreciate it.
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I have seen this happen with several relatives. One currently still living…
It is a hard nut to crack. The best we can do is honor who they present themselves as at any particular moment that we talk with them.
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Tough. I hope we never have to experience that. If my wife forget me while I had to care for her, that would be so hard. Let’s think of more pleasant things. Thank you for reading and commenting. You have a wonderful weekend.
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Awww love this
Never take a moment for granted..
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That is exactly how I try to live my life. You never know what is coming. So we have to treasure every moment. Thanks for reading. I really appreciate it.
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A wise gifted writer 😊
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Thanks. Smiling. Happy Sunday
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You’re welcome 😀
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A faded man and his tale of fading life…
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Thanks for stopping by to read. I appreciate it. Have a great week.
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Welcome.
You too!
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yes – def. we don not need to wait for thanksgiving to be thankful
tough on having to erase the past for whatever reason… that carries a lot of emotion…
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Oh, we need to teach ourselves to be grateful everyday. Thanks for reading. Have a wonderful day.
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Beautiful. I love The Notebook also. I cannot imagine the pain each one goes through. The one in that terrifying state of alienation and the other not being known or loved anymore. So heartbreaking and such a beautiful declaration of love. Thank you for such a lovely post! 🌹
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Thank you for your kind words. I love that movie too. I hope we never have to experience the pain of a love one fading away. It must be terrible. Thank you for reading. I appreciate it.
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Always my pleasure. Thank you for sharing your thoughts & world
🍃🌺
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Thank you for reading.
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This is a great wonderful poem in how much it communicates in just a few simple lines. Thank you for sharing it.
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Oh, thanks. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read. I really appreciate it. Have a wonderful holiday season.
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True story about gratitude. Awesome poem, too! 🙂
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Very true. Thanks for the compliment and for stopping by to read.
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Beautiful, sad, and real all at the same time!
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Thanks for reading it. I appreciate it. Take care
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A wonderful poem. Love Odie
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Thanks Odie
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Do you have any published books? You are a amazing writer and storyteller.
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Thanks. Still unpublished. Looking for a literary agent to represent me and my work.
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Very hard to find a good one. I have known many to self-publish first. I will in January.
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Best of luck to you. I am not ready to go down thart road yet. But I know many that have. I wish you all the best.
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Thank you.
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The poem is lovely. I love the flow and the use of words. Great work. I like reading poetry like yours. Your poems are like I have found a box of full of treasures. I can’t make myself stop reading them. Thank you for finding me and letting me find you.
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Oh, you are much too kind. You make me blush with your compliments. Thanks for reading them. I appreciate it.
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Reblogged this on The Lonely Author and commented:
Normally, I like to keep my posts fresh, but a reblog of this post would be fitting today. I have never liked the saying “behind every great man there is a great woman”or the different variations. It should never have been recited in schools because it only served to perpectuate the perceived differences between the sexes and the notion that women need to be behind men. The words should have said, behind every great man there is A SHADOW. That great woman is standing by his side and possibly in front of him, as President Ronald Reagan credited Nancy Reagan. He often said she pushed him to make many of his decisions including the improvement of relations with Gorbachev and the ending of the Cold War. This year, for the first time, a woman may run for President, according to many in President Reagan’s cabinet, a woman has already served in the White House.
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Reblogged this on Belleva.
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This just popped into my dashboard notifications. Thank you so much for the reblog.
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a pleasure my friend, you a featured writer there. X
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Thank you so much
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Love the sober poem. I was too busy raising babies during the Reagan years to pay very much attention to him and at that time, I was very politically unaware and disinterested. However, when I hear snippets of his speeches now I surely, hear a difference from what we’ve had in recent years. He wasn’t perfect but he was a leader someone, who brought people together on important values. We need to pray for such a leader now.
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You took the words out of my mouth. Like everyone Reagan made his errors, but he did lead & he never resorted to the embarrassing behaviour we witness today. I have read much about Nancy, she was an amazing woman. Many claim she lead the White House behind the scenes. The President Reagan never hesitated to admit his accomplishments were due to her. Beautiful couple. Both equal. Thanks for reading. I hope a leader comes along who can fix our problems and begin the healing process.
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Me too…but maybe we the people need to work on our own healing so such a leader can emerge from among us.
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So true. Without trying to preach, I am sure you will understand me. Man has lost his way. Today, people find it easier to hate, criticize, and judge. I will never understand it. I find it so much easier to love and encourage. Perhaps, some men haven’t evolved as much as Chimps.
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LOL! Some days, I think we are devolving…but what chimps have is self-acceptance as chimps…we on the other hand like to play God. You can preach to me anytime. I love good preaching, as long as it’s delivered with love and humility.:0) and honest.
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You know we are on the exact same wave length when it comes to love, respect, and most importantly faith.
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:0)
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A poignant poem, Andrew. Such a tragic ending for a great man. I was saddened to hear of his wife’s passing, but I would imagine she was ready to join the love of her life.
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I was shocked yesterday, but like you, I imagined he was waiting for her. They are together again. May they rest in peace. Have a wonderful week.
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You also, Andrew.
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Thanks
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