notmyrealname
Rough_Rock
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2007
- Messages
- 9
Girls, I want to thank you so much for your support these past few months or so. I posted before about backing off and letting him do his thing. He started bringing up all the marriage talk, etc, but I wasn''t sure if he was totally into it or just felt pressured to get a move on.
He had ordered the ring from Michael C. Fina in New York City and I figured (we''re long distance), he would just hand it to me over Easter. The real story is so much better. We got engaged on Leap Year Day! And it was a total and complete surprise, proof that you can have a hand in choosing your ring and still be surprised. The story is so long, but there is one picture too (more to come!)
There were little signs all day long…too bad I didn’t realize it! On Friday morning, my mom asked me what I was wearing to go out to eat with my friend that night. “Isn’t it a fancier place? How about that sweater dress?†I was thinking Bravo, where we had plans, is not that fancy and my friend was coming right from work. This is out of character for my mom, as we don’t see eye to eye on clothing. Okay, well…my mom has never been to Bravo’s, so I chalked it up to her thinking it was a fancy place. Also, on the news in the morning, they said that Leap Year was a good day to get engaged, but for the woman to ask the man.
At work on Friday, I was stuck on hall duty. I wanted the NYT crossword puzzle, but my friend couldn’t find it, so she brought me her Bride’s Magazine. I had already read that one, so I just laid it on the desk. A student in the hall asked if I was getting married and I said, “Oh someday…in a couple of years. Are you getting married?†and she responded “someday too†and we laughed.
It had started snowing while I was at work that day and we were permitted to leave a few minutes earlier than usual. I actually didn’t leave early because I was trying to call Steve in Florida, as I hadn’t heard from him in a few days and my calls kept going straight to voicemail. I was worried about him because there had been power outages in his area on Wednesday. Also, while it is not unusual to not hear from him for a few days, it is unusual for him not to call me back, especially when I knew he was off work that Friday.
I couldn’t get a hold of him. I called my mom and asked her what I should do, as I was worried. She didn’t think it was a major deal, but told me to be careful on the roads. I then went to Wal-Mart to buy material to make a banner and costumes for my team. Since I was off all weekend, I planned to spend the weekend sewing, gluing, etc., and was really looking forward to this.
Meanwhile, Steve had made plans to come in to town and surprise me. I had wondered if he would do something like this sometime, but I thought maybe Valentine’s Day if anything. I had surprised him in November at Thanksgiving and he is competitive and probably wanted to get me back. The ring we both picked out came in just one week after our cruise, but he told me it hadn’t arrived. (Everyone thought we would get engaged on the cruise.) I was in the process of planning a trip down to see him at Easter and just get the ring then. I figured he would just hand me the ring in his apartment and that would be a nice at-home proposal or we would go out to dinner or something like that. Flights for Easter were too expensive and he kept “waiting for the price to drop.†I was getting mad at him, because it just seemed like this wasn’t going to happen and I had no free time to see him after Easter until June.
Steve had contacted my parents while I was at class one night and told them his intentions. They were “neutral†as he put it, but my parents are not the jump up and down type and they seemed pleased. My dad even offered to go pick him up at the airport when he came in. Steve told them to keep it a secret and to check if I would be available the next weekend, which I was. My parents were to call Steve when I left the house, as he was going to swing by and get the camera. Steve then had my old college roommate Kim call and ask if I wanted to hang out on Friday.
I wanted to see Kim, so of course I said yes to a six o’clock dinner (she said she had a gift card…I’m a cheapskate). I was so excited to see her and even grabbed a picture I wanted to give her and put it in my pocket. My mother asked me when I was going to get ready to go out that night. I kept it simple with a teal top from Old Navy, a calf-length black skirt from Old Navy, ballet flats, and a black headband. I did not take my camera as I was just going to dinner with Kim and had a tiny purse.
I arrived a little late (6:07), but no Kim. She only has about a fifteen minute commute from there, but the roads were really terrible with all the snow. I called her and she said she would be there soon. At 6:30, she called and said to just go to the table and she’d be there in ten minutes. Now, I felt really awkward sitting at a table by myself. I noticed Kim’s name was spelled wrong on the reservations sheet, but whatever, it is a hard last name to spell. I sat with my back to the room and waited. All of a sudden, I hear a man’s voice say “Is this seat taken?†I thought to myself “What a weirdo…†and in front of me appeared Steve, dressed in a Steelers sweatshirt and khaki pants.
What went through my mind? At first, I thought it was just a coincidence. I didn’t realize I’d been set up. But he said it very slyly, like he was up to something. He asked again “Is this seat taken? Can I sit down?†I was in shock and could barely speak. My hands were literally trembling. I thought “Oh my God, did he come to propose?â€
He sat down and something fell out of his sweatshirt as he took it off. He laughed and said oops. I noticed it was a ring box sitting on the chair. I tried to look away quickly. He said “Oh, yeah, I almost forgot…†I said “Oh no, is that my ring? Don’t give it to me now…†because I was so nervous and there were tons of people everywhere. He laughed and said “No, this is the one my mom was getting sized for you (from Christmas)…the other one I don’t know what’s up with it. I’m going to call this week.†I was relieved that the one from Christmas fit now, because then I knew my engagement ring would fit. They were around the same size.
He told me he was there recruiting at Pitt and CMU for his company and that they paid for the flight and he decided to surprise me and stay through the weekend. I really bought the story. Now, two things stand out to me: he didn’t know the name of the hotel where they were staying until I listed a whole bunch in downtown, and he didn’t tell me where they went out to eat.
Anyway, I was too nervous to eat and I was very spacey, so I think the waitress thought I was on something. I was so excited to see him. I still had every intention of keeping my plans with my friend for the next night and sewing all weekend. I just thought he was visiting town because he got the flight free. I also was bummed out my friend Kim wasn’t going to make it! I had lasagna and took most of it home.
Steve had even asked the restaurant if he could propose there if the weather was too bad, but Kim knew I wouldn’t like that very much. She is an awesome friend and I called her while Steve was in the restroom to thank her. She didn’t let on that there was more at all. Steve asked if I wanted to do ice skating or Mount Washington, since we were supposed to do both when he was in town last Christmas and we ran out of time. He also said he wanted to go take pictures on Mount Washington with the snow, etc. I told him I didn’t have my camera. (Turns out, my parents forgot to call him to come get the camera…it was out of batteries anyway, very uncharacteristic for me!)
He had his mom’s camera and car and knew I would pick Mount Washington because the weather was so bad. We got in his car and drove there. I didn’t see a ring box anywhere on him. We were trying to go to the West End Overlook, as it was really nice. We got lost, but he totally kept his cool. We weren’t listening to music and we both had to use the bathroom, so that was nice! Anyway, we got to the West End Overlook near Sheraden and it was very deserted. You have to park and walk a good ways. We both felt unsafe, and he wanted to go to the other one. We got lost again. Finally, we get to Mount Washington down from the incline and the LeMont, right across from Monterey Bay. He even had suggested taking the incline, but I wasn’t sure what time it closed and didn’t want to have to rush down.
We parked randomly and walked down the hill. I was carrying my purse, an umbrella to shield me (one spoke was broken, classy), and wearing a skirt and small shoes. I almost fell. We snapped some pictures, but really couldn’t get the camera working right. Three men were up on the overlook talking about Pittsburgh history. Steve asked if I wanted to go back to the car and figure out how to work the camera, but I didn’t want to walk up that snow covered hill again (unplowed). It was freezing. We were shaking (making the pictures worse) and he was holding me. Finally, the men left. Another couple came and went. I was about ready to go. He kept asking me to put down the umbrella, but my hair was getting soaked.
I wanted to climb on the statue of George Washington and take a picture. He seemed reluctant, but did it. Then, as I was fiddling with the umbrella, out of nowhere, he says “It is so nice up here. Actually, I had another reason for bringing my Pittsburgh girl up here….†He got down on one knee in the snow and whipped out a ring box so smoothly. Everything was blurry to me. He said “Will you marry me?â€
I was speechless. I immediately thought to myself “This is it. Is this 100% right? Forever?†and it was. I was covering my mouth with my hands, just shocked. I really didn’t expect it. I have no idea where the ring came from on his person, but it was gorgeous.
I answered “yeah!†while looking right at him. I love him so much. I didn’t even want to put the ring on, I just wanted to be close to him. He got up and we hugged and kissed and I laughed/cried into his sweatshirt. I looked up and his eyes were teary. He asked if I was laughing or crying and I told him both. I always thought it would be full-on tears (of joy) or that I would be totally calm and wait to answer. In my shock, it was neither of those and it was so wonderful.
“We’re getting married!†I said and we hugged for a long time. I wasn’t even cold anymore. He jokingly told me the ring was from QVC, but looked like the one I’d picked out. I didn’t even care. We snapped a few shots with his mom’s camera, but were disappointed with them. He told me the whole Harris recruiting story was a lie and that everyone knew about this. He had been worried when I called Kim that she might give it away! He said I almost caught him on the name of the hotel thing, but he covered pretty well.
I was so shocked, but I didn’t want to put the ring on in case we dropped it in the snow. I was also afraid it wouldn’t fit and would ruin the mood. We were so happy. He told me he had asked his mom if the ring was visible in his pocket and she said no, but he almost hung it on his keys around his neck! He also hadn’t wanted to get out at the West End Overlook in case we got robbed. My umbrella almost blew off the cliff, I was so oblivious.
Steve saw someone approaching and said “Get your purse! Get your purse!†which had been lying on the ground. I grabbed it, but we felt stupid, because the guy was actually a pastor with a professional camera. We asked him to take some pictures of us and he did (he was there with his college-age daughter on a Leap Year’s date). Steve went to the car and we wrote down our emails to get the pictures. I hope we get them, because our camera ones aren’t that spectacular! His pants didn’t even have a wet spot on them from where he knelt down…moisture resistant Dockers!
He said he wasn’t nervous to ask, he knew I would say yes. His backup plans had been at a college near my house where we met (I would have seen that coming a mile away), my house (where he joked I might have said no), or at the restaurant. I told him the way he asked was perfect. It was. I still have butterflies thinking about it.
Even though it was soaking wet and cold, we just wanted to stay up there and talk. The view was beautiful. I told him I would never try to top this surprise and that he wins, once and for all. He agreed, because any bigger surprise would end in a heart attack for one of us.
We talked a little about how weird it is to be fiancé and fiancée, husband and wife. I said “Mr. and Mrs. Tomko†and asked him if he had cold feet. He said his feet were cold, literally. The two of us stood looking out at the city in a moment I always want to remember, with our hands around each other’s backs. It was corny to say at the time, but I meant it when I said “It’s you and me facing the world, baby.â€
I told him I wanted to keep the proposal to ourselves for a few days to just enjoy it and he agreed. We spent an hour and a half on Mount Washington and finally went back to the car so happy. Steve said that everything fell into place perfectly and that the guy happening to be there taking the pictures was a sign, as was the beautiful snow, the perfectly timed connecting flight he took, and the fact that once we got in the car, the ring fit perfectly! (He also said I looked pretty that night in the restaurant and that made it easier to propose…as well as the fact that I didn’t go right for the ring like he would have!) He said we should have gone on that proposal show, but he thought his proposal would have ended up being really corny or going wrong!
We drove back to the restaurant and got my car. We headed to my house and woke my mom up. I told them they were liars! Steve had been worried my mom would blab everything to me, especially when he started getting cell phone calls from me. But she did a great job holding the secret. My brother and sister didn’t know and my sister asked to see the ring. I quickly touched up my wet hair and makeup and took a few pictures. Then we went to Steve’s house, where his mom was sleeping.
Steve told her “she said no†and Steve’s mom said “Did she? Smart woman…†but she was half-asleep and then Steve told her he was joking. She hugged me and we talked wedding plans and excitement. His whole family knew, even his aunt and uncle in New Zealand. She never thought he would be this romantic since he is always joking. She talked to him 4 times that week setting everything up and admitted she had been avoiding my calls too!
We made plans to go to dinner the next night with my parents and brother at Luciano’s and Steve got us a table with no wait. I cancelled my plans with my friend, but she totally understood why. The student who asked me the day before about getting married was working and I introduced my fiancé. She said “I thought you weren’t getting married anytime soon?†and I said “I am, as of last night.†Several other students were working, so they became some of the first people I told inadvertently.
The next morning, I went out to eat with his family for breakfast. His aunt, uncle, and grandpa came. We had a great time and hung out all day until I took him back to the airport. We stood in front of the airport and he said “Bye, fiancee…†and I started crying. We kissed and he rolled inside. It was seriously the perfect weekend.
I did no homework and I didn’t sew any costumes. And I don’t mind one bit. We’re not perfect, but for one brief weekend, it sure felt that way.
He had ordered the ring from Michael C. Fina in New York City and I figured (we''re long distance), he would just hand it to me over Easter. The real story is so much better. We got engaged on Leap Year Day! And it was a total and complete surprise, proof that you can have a hand in choosing your ring and still be surprised. The story is so long, but there is one picture too (more to come!)
There were little signs all day long…too bad I didn’t realize it! On Friday morning, my mom asked me what I was wearing to go out to eat with my friend that night. “Isn’t it a fancier place? How about that sweater dress?†I was thinking Bravo, where we had plans, is not that fancy and my friend was coming right from work. This is out of character for my mom, as we don’t see eye to eye on clothing. Okay, well…my mom has never been to Bravo’s, so I chalked it up to her thinking it was a fancy place. Also, on the news in the morning, they said that Leap Year was a good day to get engaged, but for the woman to ask the man.
At work on Friday, I was stuck on hall duty. I wanted the NYT crossword puzzle, but my friend couldn’t find it, so she brought me her Bride’s Magazine. I had already read that one, so I just laid it on the desk. A student in the hall asked if I was getting married and I said, “Oh someday…in a couple of years. Are you getting married?†and she responded “someday too†and we laughed.
It had started snowing while I was at work that day and we were permitted to leave a few minutes earlier than usual. I actually didn’t leave early because I was trying to call Steve in Florida, as I hadn’t heard from him in a few days and my calls kept going straight to voicemail. I was worried about him because there had been power outages in his area on Wednesday. Also, while it is not unusual to not hear from him for a few days, it is unusual for him not to call me back, especially when I knew he was off work that Friday.
I couldn’t get a hold of him. I called my mom and asked her what I should do, as I was worried. She didn’t think it was a major deal, but told me to be careful on the roads. I then went to Wal-Mart to buy material to make a banner and costumes for my team. Since I was off all weekend, I planned to spend the weekend sewing, gluing, etc., and was really looking forward to this.
Meanwhile, Steve had made plans to come in to town and surprise me. I had wondered if he would do something like this sometime, but I thought maybe Valentine’s Day if anything. I had surprised him in November at Thanksgiving and he is competitive and probably wanted to get me back. The ring we both picked out came in just one week after our cruise, but he told me it hadn’t arrived. (Everyone thought we would get engaged on the cruise.) I was in the process of planning a trip down to see him at Easter and just get the ring then. I figured he would just hand me the ring in his apartment and that would be a nice at-home proposal or we would go out to dinner or something like that. Flights for Easter were too expensive and he kept “waiting for the price to drop.†I was getting mad at him, because it just seemed like this wasn’t going to happen and I had no free time to see him after Easter until June.
Steve had contacted my parents while I was at class one night and told them his intentions. They were “neutral†as he put it, but my parents are not the jump up and down type and they seemed pleased. My dad even offered to go pick him up at the airport when he came in. Steve told them to keep it a secret and to check if I would be available the next weekend, which I was. My parents were to call Steve when I left the house, as he was going to swing by and get the camera. Steve then had my old college roommate Kim call and ask if I wanted to hang out on Friday.
I wanted to see Kim, so of course I said yes to a six o’clock dinner (she said she had a gift card…I’m a cheapskate). I was so excited to see her and even grabbed a picture I wanted to give her and put it in my pocket. My mother asked me when I was going to get ready to go out that night. I kept it simple with a teal top from Old Navy, a calf-length black skirt from Old Navy, ballet flats, and a black headband. I did not take my camera as I was just going to dinner with Kim and had a tiny purse.
I arrived a little late (6:07), but no Kim. She only has about a fifteen minute commute from there, but the roads were really terrible with all the snow. I called her and she said she would be there soon. At 6:30, she called and said to just go to the table and she’d be there in ten minutes. Now, I felt really awkward sitting at a table by myself. I noticed Kim’s name was spelled wrong on the reservations sheet, but whatever, it is a hard last name to spell. I sat with my back to the room and waited. All of a sudden, I hear a man’s voice say “Is this seat taken?†I thought to myself “What a weirdo…†and in front of me appeared Steve, dressed in a Steelers sweatshirt and khaki pants.
What went through my mind? At first, I thought it was just a coincidence. I didn’t realize I’d been set up. But he said it very slyly, like he was up to something. He asked again “Is this seat taken? Can I sit down?†I was in shock and could barely speak. My hands were literally trembling. I thought “Oh my God, did he come to propose?â€
He sat down and something fell out of his sweatshirt as he took it off. He laughed and said oops. I noticed it was a ring box sitting on the chair. I tried to look away quickly. He said “Oh, yeah, I almost forgot…†I said “Oh no, is that my ring? Don’t give it to me now…†because I was so nervous and there were tons of people everywhere. He laughed and said “No, this is the one my mom was getting sized for you (from Christmas)…the other one I don’t know what’s up with it. I’m going to call this week.†I was relieved that the one from Christmas fit now, because then I knew my engagement ring would fit. They were around the same size.
He told me he was there recruiting at Pitt and CMU for his company and that they paid for the flight and he decided to surprise me and stay through the weekend. I really bought the story. Now, two things stand out to me: he didn’t know the name of the hotel where they were staying until I listed a whole bunch in downtown, and he didn’t tell me where they went out to eat.
Anyway, I was too nervous to eat and I was very spacey, so I think the waitress thought I was on something. I was so excited to see him. I still had every intention of keeping my plans with my friend for the next night and sewing all weekend. I just thought he was visiting town because he got the flight free. I also was bummed out my friend Kim wasn’t going to make it! I had lasagna and took most of it home.
Steve had even asked the restaurant if he could propose there if the weather was too bad, but Kim knew I wouldn’t like that very much. She is an awesome friend and I called her while Steve was in the restroom to thank her. She didn’t let on that there was more at all. Steve asked if I wanted to do ice skating or Mount Washington, since we were supposed to do both when he was in town last Christmas and we ran out of time. He also said he wanted to go take pictures on Mount Washington with the snow, etc. I told him I didn’t have my camera. (Turns out, my parents forgot to call him to come get the camera…it was out of batteries anyway, very uncharacteristic for me!)
He had his mom’s camera and car and knew I would pick Mount Washington because the weather was so bad. We got in his car and drove there. I didn’t see a ring box anywhere on him. We were trying to go to the West End Overlook, as it was really nice. We got lost, but he totally kept his cool. We weren’t listening to music and we both had to use the bathroom, so that was nice! Anyway, we got to the West End Overlook near Sheraden and it was very deserted. You have to park and walk a good ways. We both felt unsafe, and he wanted to go to the other one. We got lost again. Finally, we get to Mount Washington down from the incline and the LeMont, right across from Monterey Bay. He even had suggested taking the incline, but I wasn’t sure what time it closed and didn’t want to have to rush down.
We parked randomly and walked down the hill. I was carrying my purse, an umbrella to shield me (one spoke was broken, classy), and wearing a skirt and small shoes. I almost fell. We snapped some pictures, but really couldn’t get the camera working right. Three men were up on the overlook talking about Pittsburgh history. Steve asked if I wanted to go back to the car and figure out how to work the camera, but I didn’t want to walk up that snow covered hill again (unplowed). It was freezing. We were shaking (making the pictures worse) and he was holding me. Finally, the men left. Another couple came and went. I was about ready to go. He kept asking me to put down the umbrella, but my hair was getting soaked.
I wanted to climb on the statue of George Washington and take a picture. He seemed reluctant, but did it. Then, as I was fiddling with the umbrella, out of nowhere, he says “It is so nice up here. Actually, I had another reason for bringing my Pittsburgh girl up here….†He got down on one knee in the snow and whipped out a ring box so smoothly. Everything was blurry to me. He said “Will you marry me?â€
I was speechless. I immediately thought to myself “This is it. Is this 100% right? Forever?†and it was. I was covering my mouth with my hands, just shocked. I really didn’t expect it. I have no idea where the ring came from on his person, but it was gorgeous.
I answered “yeah!†while looking right at him. I love him so much. I didn’t even want to put the ring on, I just wanted to be close to him. He got up and we hugged and kissed and I laughed/cried into his sweatshirt. I looked up and his eyes were teary. He asked if I was laughing or crying and I told him both. I always thought it would be full-on tears (of joy) or that I would be totally calm and wait to answer. In my shock, it was neither of those and it was so wonderful.
“We’re getting married!†I said and we hugged for a long time. I wasn’t even cold anymore. He jokingly told me the ring was from QVC, but looked like the one I’d picked out. I didn’t even care. We snapped a few shots with his mom’s camera, but were disappointed with them. He told me the whole Harris recruiting story was a lie and that everyone knew about this. He had been worried when I called Kim that she might give it away! He said I almost caught him on the name of the hotel thing, but he covered pretty well.
I was so shocked, but I didn’t want to put the ring on in case we dropped it in the snow. I was also afraid it wouldn’t fit and would ruin the mood. We were so happy. He told me he had asked his mom if the ring was visible in his pocket and she said no, but he almost hung it on his keys around his neck! He also hadn’t wanted to get out at the West End Overlook in case we got robbed. My umbrella almost blew off the cliff, I was so oblivious.
Steve saw someone approaching and said “Get your purse! Get your purse!†which had been lying on the ground. I grabbed it, but we felt stupid, because the guy was actually a pastor with a professional camera. We asked him to take some pictures of us and he did (he was there with his college-age daughter on a Leap Year’s date). Steve went to the car and we wrote down our emails to get the pictures. I hope we get them, because our camera ones aren’t that spectacular! His pants didn’t even have a wet spot on them from where he knelt down…moisture resistant Dockers!
He said he wasn’t nervous to ask, he knew I would say yes. His backup plans had been at a college near my house where we met (I would have seen that coming a mile away), my house (where he joked I might have said no), or at the restaurant. I told him the way he asked was perfect. It was. I still have butterflies thinking about it.
Even though it was soaking wet and cold, we just wanted to stay up there and talk. The view was beautiful. I told him I would never try to top this surprise and that he wins, once and for all. He agreed, because any bigger surprise would end in a heart attack for one of us.
We talked a little about how weird it is to be fiancé and fiancée, husband and wife. I said “Mr. and Mrs. Tomko†and asked him if he had cold feet. He said his feet were cold, literally. The two of us stood looking out at the city in a moment I always want to remember, with our hands around each other’s backs. It was corny to say at the time, but I meant it when I said “It’s you and me facing the world, baby.â€
I told him I wanted to keep the proposal to ourselves for a few days to just enjoy it and he agreed. We spent an hour and a half on Mount Washington and finally went back to the car so happy. Steve said that everything fell into place perfectly and that the guy happening to be there taking the pictures was a sign, as was the beautiful snow, the perfectly timed connecting flight he took, and the fact that once we got in the car, the ring fit perfectly! (He also said I looked pretty that night in the restaurant and that made it easier to propose…as well as the fact that I didn’t go right for the ring like he would have!) He said we should have gone on that proposal show, but he thought his proposal would have ended up being really corny or going wrong!
We drove back to the restaurant and got my car. We headed to my house and woke my mom up. I told them they were liars! Steve had been worried my mom would blab everything to me, especially when he started getting cell phone calls from me. But she did a great job holding the secret. My brother and sister didn’t know and my sister asked to see the ring. I quickly touched up my wet hair and makeup and took a few pictures. Then we went to Steve’s house, where his mom was sleeping.
Steve told her “she said no†and Steve’s mom said “Did she? Smart woman…†but she was half-asleep and then Steve told her he was joking. She hugged me and we talked wedding plans and excitement. His whole family knew, even his aunt and uncle in New Zealand. She never thought he would be this romantic since he is always joking. She talked to him 4 times that week setting everything up and admitted she had been avoiding my calls too!
We made plans to go to dinner the next night with my parents and brother at Luciano’s and Steve got us a table with no wait. I cancelled my plans with my friend, but she totally understood why. The student who asked me the day before about getting married was working and I introduced my fiancé. She said “I thought you weren’t getting married anytime soon?†and I said “I am, as of last night.†Several other students were working, so they became some of the first people I told inadvertently.
The next morning, I went out to eat with his family for breakfast. His aunt, uncle, and grandpa came. We had a great time and hung out all day until I took him back to the airport. We stood in front of the airport and he said “Bye, fiancee…†and I started crying. We kissed and he rolled inside. It was seriously the perfect weekend.
I did no homework and I didn’t sew any costumes. And I don’t mind one bit. We’re not perfect, but for one brief weekend, it sure felt that way.
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