What a week it’s been! I’ve shared stories about my cats, my granny and my love of dressing up, all the while managing (barely) to watch Rafa lose his match at Wimbledon as well as witness the spectacular crash and burn of one Andy Murray. One or two of us have shared running commentaries on this sorry subject, so I know I’m not the only one whose week has been one big balancing act.
As for the World Cup, I’m amazed at how prolific football (as we Brits call it) has become in the States. When we lived there, my boys played on soccer teams but I don’t think the World Cup was mentioned once. Seems things have changed since I left. I will restrain myself from mentioning England’s performance, but I will say well done USA! Moving swiftly on…
It is fitting then, I think, to be able to end the week on a high because I have some exciting news to share with you, which is to say that two of my poems have been published in an anthology! It hasn’t sunk in yet and I can’t quite believe it!
Compiled by my blogging friend Russ Towne, Heart Whispers is available now on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
Russ has worked incredibly hard to bring about this beautiful compilation, described in this way:
“An anthology of nearly 100 poems selected from over 20 modern poets. Poetry that isn’t just read, it is experienced. Such poetry can remind you of the greatness and goodness within yourself and others. When one listens to the whispers of their heart, lives can be transformed, beauty is created, healing happens, connectedness occurs, and kindness prevails.”
For those of you who might be interested, Michael over at M. Zane McClellan (Poetry Channel) shares his production of the beautiful preview video of Heart Whispers (only 3 minutes long!).
This is the first time, ever, that I’ve had any writing published in a book, and I am truly honoured to have my poems appear alongside so many wonderful, talented poets, a couple of whom are fellow bloggers and friends.
Thank you so much Russ for making the publication of this beautiful anthology possible.
But none of this would have happened if it wasn’t for you, my dear friends (and family!) who have given me the confidence to go this far with my writing.
I was so scared the first time I posted a poem here, thinking I would be laughed out of blogland, but instead you have given me the best gifts a writer could receive – the space for creative freedom, the breathing room for the raw expression of some of my deepest and darkest thoughts, and the inspiration to explore forms of poetry I didn’t even know existed.
On top of all that, you have given me the courage to keep going.
So I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Who would have thought that all those years ago on this date, barbecuing on a beach with my children and watching fireworks somewhere on the Central Coast of California, that on this 4th of July back here in the UK, I would be blogging about my first ever poetry publication?
Life can bring hardship, pain and loss but it can also bring joy, hope and the realisation of long-held dreams.
View from the heights of Los Osos overlooking Morro Bay, California, Spring 2013.
(c) Sherri Matthews 2014
Finally then, in remembering those precious family gatherings from a distant past, I wish all my dear American friends today a very Happy 4th of July. I celebrate with you on your independence day and raise a glass to a star-spangled future for us all.
A View From My Summerhouse 
Brava, Sherri!!! clapClapCLAP
This is wonderful, exciting news, and the cover is very attractive and appealing. I love the title. Celebrate, you published poet. Get out the champagne (and the costumes, too, if you want)–this is your time to shine! 🙂
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Haha! Yes, bring out the bubbly and dress-up and celebrate, and cheers to you my friend…how perfect that I get to share this with you as one of my poems is my Aubade which you inspired me to write. How exciting is that? Thank you so, so much dear Marylin 😀
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Congratulations. dear Sherri. Such wonderful news for you. You must be over the moon, and I’m so happy for your success. 🙂 xx
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Thank you so much Sylvia, I am thrilled and still can’t quite believe it 🙂 xx
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Well done you! What a happy day this must be. It always feels so good to have your words published. You must be feeling so proud of yourself, and deservedly so! Now you need to produce your OWN book of poetry – you know you can 😉
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It all happened so fast as I wasn’t expecting the book to be published until August so when Russ said it was already out I wanted to let everyone know as soon as possible! I am very excited about it all and thanks so much Jude. Now, deep breath, yes, I would very much like to publish my own poetry book…let’s see what happens 😉 xx
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You have some great poems Sherri. Add a few choice photos – voila! Look at Blurb for self-publishing though there are many others.
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You have always been so encouraging of my poetry (and my photos!) Jude, and that means such a lot. I will take a look at Blurb as I do have a few ideas rummaging about in my mind, whilst trying to get my book written….ha!
Catching up now just finished watching the men’s final. Did you see it? Feel quite drained now, a great final but after all the disappointment of the past 2 weeks, I ended up rooting for Federer..so of course he lost!
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awesome :0 happy 4th 2 U an urs 🙂 frum Q
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Thank you very much Q for your kind wishes 🙂
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HOW ABSOLUTELY, WONDERFULLY, FANTASTICALLY EXCITING!!!!! 😀
I’m thrilled for you, Sherri! Congratulations. (Confetti thrown here!)
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Ahhh….wait a minute…just brushing off the confetti….there you go. Haha! Thank you so much Susan, I’m delighted to be able to share this wonderful news. Still hasn’t sunk in… 😀
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BTW, I ordered the book. I should have it on Tuesday. Can’t wait to see your name in print! 🙂
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Oh thanks so much Susan, that’s great! I hope you enjoy all the poems in there, I’ve yet to see them all. I’ve ordered mine too and can’t wait either 🙂
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Congratulations Sherri! Your poetry (and stories) so deserve to be published 😀 Cheers!!!
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Thank you so much Theresa, you have always been such an amazing encouragement to me and I’m thrilled to be able to share this news with you and everyone here. It still hasn’t hit home yet… 😀
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Marvellous! So happy for you – how exciting. Enjoy it all. Hope it sells well too – what an accolade. Hooray!
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Thank you so much Jenny and for all your support and encouragement 😀
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Many, many congratulations Sherri, that’s absolutely wonderful news! I’ve ordered my copy so I’ll look forward to reading your poems 🙂 Get the champagne out!
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Oh how lovely Andrea, I hope you enjoy all the poems, thank you so much! Haha, yes, how appropriate to bring out the champagne, any excuse and what a perfect excuse this is. Cheers to you and everyone here, so grateful that I am 😀
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Given it is Le Grand Depart demain matin (as they say in Harrogate), I say ‘Chapeau, Sherri’ (or perhaps, just this once, Cheri) for you poetry success. Hope it is the first of many.
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Haha! With the Tour de France obviously very much on your mind Geoff, I say that Cheri couldn’t be more perfect!!! I, however, spent today in agony watching Wimbledon’s men’s final (although I’m a Rafa fan so in his absence rooted for Federer, so of course, he lost!). Lovely, kind wishes from you, so gratefully received. Merci beaucoup… 🙂
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Such a shame; he is Le Grand Fromage de Tennis
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Oh he is indeed 🙂
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So happy for you Sherri! I feel that this is just the start of many wonderful things to come!
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You are so kind Jhanis, thank you so very much 😀
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Congratulations Sherri. This is just the beginning. Wonderful news. So proud of you. Lots of love xxx
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Much love to you MP and very grateful thanks as always…keep on keeping on .. 🙂 ❤ xxx
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Out-STAND-ing. Congratulations, Sherri. I see you smile and your face glows. Awesome. ❤
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Ahhh…thank you so much Tess, always so grateful for your encouragement and support. Means a lot that…smiling with you 😀 ❤ 🙂
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❤ ❤ ❤
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❤ times 50…got ya 😉
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~(*_~)~~
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Haha 😉
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YOWZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh Sherri, I’m sooooooooooooo happy for you! DFD and I are doing the happy dance for you! Hugs and Kisses to you! We’re sending a bottle of bubbly(or two) across the pond!
The sun is starting to set and I hear explosions in the distance. Thank you for your July 4th wishes! xoxo
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LOVE IT!!! Oh Jill, I love yours and DFD’s happy dance and I’m joining in right now! I’m loving the bubbly too (of course!!!) and here’s to the perfect excuse to celebrate…cheers and thank you so, so much my friend, got the hugs and kisses too 🙂
I hope you had a super July 4th too and that the party lasted into the weekend…we do love a good party don’t we? Any excuse…woo hoo!!! 😉 xoxoxo
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Great news about the book … now when are you going to do your own????
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Thank so much Bulldog and somehow I knew you were going to say that!!! But…and I promise you…the book is being written and I do have plans to publish my own poetry book at some point too…watch this space 😉
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Congratulations, Sherri! That is such wonderful news, you must be ecstatic. For many of us writers, we don’t write to get published but to share (among many other reasons), and when we do get published, it’s just a bonus on top of why we write. So happy for you, this sounds like the start of your writing journey and I won’t be surprised if you get published in a book again. Happy 4th, kick back and relax 🙂
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Thank you so much Mabel. I never expected in a million years that any of my poetry would ever see the light of day, never mind published here on my blog as I have done with some of them and then included in an anthology, published in a book, so this is a real thrill. I have to keep pinching myself! I hope you are having a super weekend 😀
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Keep pinching yourself, but keep writing too! The work you share here is always so touching, I would read it all if I can. One day you’ll get your own book out there, Sherri, I know it. It’s just a matter of time and I can’t wait to get my hands on it 😀
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You are so kind Mabel, and your encouragement means the world. I’m honoured that you enjoy reading my blog so much, thank you very much. I am working on my book and on days when I am paralyzed with self-doubt, all the wonderful support you and everyone else has shown me spurs me on every day 😀
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Many congratulations! That’ wonderful news and very exciting. So how many copies are you planning to buy for friends?
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Thanks so much Dylan, I am very excited to be included in this anthology (can you tell?)!! I have ordered one or two copies 😉
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Congratulations!!!!
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Thank you so much, how very kind of you 🙂
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Applause, applause, applause! Congratulations. Enjoy your success!
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Thank you so much Tracy. I am truly honoured to have been included in this anthology, still can’t believe it… 😉
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Believe! ❤
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‘kay… ❤
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Aw dear Sherri P, congratulations!! 😀 And it so well deserved ^^ Surely this is the start of your publishing career, and we will soon see you in the best-sellers chart 😉
Ha, yeah, I think it’s best not to mention England in the World Cup 😉 The USA getting further than us in the competition is a bit of a kick in the teeth, considering they don’t really care about football. But well done to them, anyway! They deserved it more than we did, clearly.
It is certainly crazy where life can take you. Crazycrazyyyyy. But it’s all part of the ride, no?
Keep shining, dear light! 🙂 x
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Well, the best-sellers chart would be very nice, right there next to you my dear 😉
The World Cup has been a bit of a disaster…I’m going to sound positively ancient here but why can’t it be like 1966 when England was a ‘real’ team? We haven’t won since then, have we? And to think, they made nothing like the money these players make today…
Life is crazy Jenny Jen Jen…life’s rich pattern! Thank you so much for your lovely, kind wishes as always…and your sweet, bright light illuminating the way 🙂 😀
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We’re much better off cheering for you than we are the England team, Sherri P! SO pleased, many congratulations indeed. One step closer to Richard and Judy…!! 🙂
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Haha! Well, I thank you very much JG for all your lovely kind wishes and wonderful encouragement, as always…really means so much you know…and you know that I’m expecting you to set up the interviews with Richard and Judy when I take you on as my agent, so I hope you have a nice suit at the ready… 😉 😀 🙂
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Magnificent! 🙂 I shall go there promptly and read. Well done, lovely lady!
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Ahh…thank you very much Jo, so kind of you… 🙂
PS Just finished watching the men’s final. As I said to Jude, in the end I decided to root for Federer, so of course he lost 😦 Still, what a final! Best yet, and so glad after all the disappointments of the past 2 weeks. Hope you enjoyed 🙂
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I was cheering Fed too so we’ll share the blame. 🙂 Coming second was no disgrace today.
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🙂 No disgrace at all..super match 😀
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Oh Sherri. How wonderful and how well deserved. This is just the start my friend. A wonderful end to a busy week. Have a great weekend. Cheers XD
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Thank you so much my friend! What a week it’s been for us both and I hope you are still celebrating your wonderful success with your graduation! Since the day you first came over to my blog and encouraged me so much with you kind words about my publications to date, I have valued your input, feedback, insight, and amazing support so very much. Not to mention your friendship. Means such a lot…
Having a lovely weekend thanks (drained after watching Wimbledon’s men’s final though!) and hope you are too. Onward and upward to a successful writing week ahead for us both! Cheers to you Irene 😀
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Thanks Sherri. Your thoughts are reciprocal. Amazing how across the hemispheres we have found a friendship that is so valuable.
Yes lets look forward to a successful week for us both with of course time for a walk thrown in. Cheers to you my friend Irene XD
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It is amazing isn’t it? And yes, got to make time for a walk, it’s been a while. Cheers right back to you too my friend 😀
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Congratulations Sherri… It is an honor to walk beside during this beautiful journey. Much peace and light to your heart ~ Linda
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Hello Linda! Thank you so much for your kind words, and I too am honoured to share this amazing journey with you! Blessings to you – Sherri 🙂
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Lovely post, great news, gorgeous photos. Thank you, Sherri, for your 4th of July wishes. But moreover, bravo for making it to the anthology. Great ending to a busy week. See you soon.
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How kind of you Evelyne, thank you so much, I greatly appreciate it! I hope you had a super July 4th and I look forward to seeing you soon too 🙂
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Well done – being published is sure to spur you on to even greater things! Best wishes
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Thank you so much for your kind wishes, how lovely of you 🙂
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That’s brilliant, very well done, Sherri!
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Thank you very much Denise, so kind of you. I am still in shock! 😀
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I’m so happy for you, Sherri. I know how much this means to you and so well deserved. You’ve got talent and the universe is showing you. Congratulations, my friend, and know it’s the first of many more to come. 🙂
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You are so kind Pat, thank you very much for your wonderful encouragement my friend. Means so much… 🙂
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Truly welcome, Sherri. It’s fun to see what you’re putting out in the world. I join you in celebration of your success. 🙂
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Bless you Pat, thank you so much 😀
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Many congratulations on being published!!! This pleases me greatly.
On the football thing, Seattle Sounders were averaging crowds of over 40,000 that last season so it really is kicking off, so to speak. I look forward to it getting bigger and to catching a game or two over there.
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I’m really glad Ste J, thanks so much, that’s really nice to know 🙂
Ah…sounds like another trip back to the States for which you are saving, as you mentioned? Exciting… 😉
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I am hoping to be back over there in a few months…finances are a tad tight but that shouldn’t stop me…all that tipping though. blimey that’s a culture shock.
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I hope you get to go when you want to …and yes, that tipping business is a huge culture shock. I lived there almost 20 years and I never did get used to it.. 😉
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Congratulations on having your poetry published!
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Thank you very much BT, I really appreciate your kind wishes 🙂
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woo hoo – congrats on the book – I also watched the vid- and even though my book list is already a bit long, I think I may just have to splurge on this later this summer – to support the efforts – but it also looks really good! and poetry books (when good) can be enjoyed again and again – and so I will keep you posted.
and thanks for the nice comment on my blog – 🙂 made my day – and even though I am taking a blogging break til labor day – I am still checking blogs while out and about – and oh Sherri – we were out driving somewhere when I saw your “dress up” post and I was LMAO – it was so fun – esp. the red glasses and the b & w dress. just fun. so I will still be around – I just wanted a break from posting – and wanted to change things up a bit.
❤ TTYS ❤
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Ahh…well, it means a lot that you would take the time to come over here Y when I know you’re taking a break. Thanks so much, really love it when I know that somebody enjoys my posts and gets a good laugh too, haha 😀 Also that you would think about buying the book, so kind of you. I’m still in shock about it!
I got the red glasses and the b&w dress at a joke shop, it’s supposed to be a 60’s outfit. All I needed was the knee-high white boots but couldn’t find those, more’s the pity, LOL!
Enjoy your summer days mon amie and see you soon 😀 ❤
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Congratulations Sherri! That must feel deservedly fab-u-lous! And I’m glad you perhaps have cause for a glass of champagne to celebrate despite the various sporting catastrophes in tennis, cycling and the football! Lisa xx
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Thanks so much Lisa, very kind of you! It does feel pretty good, I have to admit and yes, haha, love that, finally a good excuse to crack open the bubbly despite all that has gone on before… 🙂 Cheers!! 😀 xx
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Congratulations Sherri! Sorry I’m late to the party – wonderful news though – your lovely words published in grand company too. 🙂 XXXXX
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Thank you so much dear Jo….never late…the party is still going, never stops, haha!! Still can’t believe that something I wrote is in a book…with so many awesome poets. How the heck did that happen? 🙂 ❤ xxxxxxxxxx
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SO MANY CONGRATULATIONS AND HUGS COMING YOUR WAY!!!! I am very happy for you, Sherri. 🙂
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Ahh…thanks a million dear Patsy, means such a lot to me that…bless you and hugs right back 🙂 ❤
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You’re welcome! And more hugs coming your way! 🙂
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Thanks Patsy…always could use plenty of hugs 😀
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