August 13, 2009

Cruise-in draws the cars ... and the banter


The three 70+year-old Fords sat side-by-side in the McDonald's parking lot -- roadster, coupe, Woody -- while their owners sat behind in picnic chairs, trash-talking.

The cars almost were secondary as Ron Kraus of Rochester, Ed Gutsch of Franksville, and Jim Joannon of Franksville (l-r), traded quips and insults, and answered questions about their beautiful cars. In red shirt is Greg Brackett of Waterford.

Kraus, owner of the red A roadster, insisted, looking at Gutsch's blue-and-white coupe, "A's rule; '32's drool." The only reason coupes are popular at car shows, Kraus said, is "so you can stand on the roof and look at A's."

Gutsch would only admit that he ordered his missing fenders in '33... and is still waiting for them. He said, "I got the car I built in high school," to which Joannon replied, "And he still can't get it to run."

Ah, and then there was Joannon's Woody -- what Kraus called, "The dead tree express... the world's fastest ice fishing shanty." Joannon just smiled. "Some people like the cars, some the bad-mouthing," he said.

And so it went, four friends enjoying themselves, their cars and especially the good-natured banter. Brackett, whose '51 pickup was parked in another aisle, was the quietest of the four. Asked why, he said, "Because I don't lie."

It's hard to tell what to believe when these guys -- and the hundreds of other car owners get together at these informal car shows -- well, cruise-in is the more correct nomenclature. There's no competition, no effort required except to show up (with a stunning car). They each just drive up and hang out, and talk about parts, engine modifications and the like. And, of course, they help each other out.

Kraus, who's owned his roadster for 12 years -- "everything's been done to it" -- says the transformation was accomplished "with a lot of help from my friends... old guys with nothing to do." His engine is a 454, "overbored," so it's really a 460. That translates to 570 horsepower driving a 2,400-lb. car. Is it fast? Well, under the hood, the words "You'd lose" are painted in big yellow print on a checkered flat.

As you might expect, this is a man's world. Kraus explained why his wife wasn't along: "Well, there was this time she was with me, and a young guy in a Camaro challenged me at a stop light... I got the cold shoulder all through dinner."

I had to ask: But did you take him? "Of course!" Well, then, it was all worthwhile! Another point in Kraus' favor: he drives his car a lot. "I'm just back from Louisville, Kentucky," he said, "where there were 12,000 street rods." And he drove his car there. "This ain't no trailer queen," he said -- my kinda classic car owner!

There's a cruise-in every night of the week in southeastern Wisconsin. Thursday nights are reserved for the Mt. Pleasant McDonald's at 6630 Washington Ave., where a wide variety arrives all summer through mid-September, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This week's event spilled over into the Stein Garden Center parking lot as well as onto Sunnyslope -- some 200 cars by my count, with a pulsing Elvis soundtrack for added ambience. Fords and Chevys dominate, but there was a gorgeous green '51 DeSoto, Corvettes, a Porsche, a Nash or two, some great pick-up trucks, original T'birds, a Corvair, a 'Cuda ("much rarer than the Barracuda," I was informed by its owner), a purple Gremlin, a Viper (with a "Will work for gas" sign in the engine compartment), even a '37 Chevy Darley fire engine!

Other cruise-ins are: Saturdays in East Troy; Tuesdays at Culvers in Milwaukee; Wednesdays at the Solid Gold Mcdonald's in Milwaukee and Fridays at Hardees in Milwaukee.




58 comments:

  1. Although cars are fun, most of us have other things on our minds during this economic crisis. Who dreams up this nonsense and why is it here?

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  2. A very cool event. Thanks for doing it

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  3. Anon 6:10... Isn't it nice to have a story that's not about scandal, corruption, violence? There are positives about our area, and they should be mentioned as well.

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  4. We all have those things on our minds. That's why we do something mindless. Take a few minutes off and relax.

    Check out the cruise-in at Georgie Porgies (corner of 20 and 31 in Kohl's parking lot) on Tuesday evenings from 5 to 8. Lots of nice cars there too.

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  5. 6:10 - you are an idiot. What does a little fun have to do with an economic crisis. There are some people that will tie their sick economic woes to everything.

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  6. Historically speaking, fun events aren't necessarily what they seem to be. Back in the days after the fall of Napoleon's Empire, lots of royals and nobles sponsored public parties to keep the commoners from seeing how they were being duped by the elite. Believe it or not, it worked--for a while. Then some crop failures sent food prices through the ceiling, the peasants stopped attending the free balls and the revolutions of 1848 toppled governments all over Europe.

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  7. Historically speaking, fun events aren't necessarily what they seem to be. Back in the days after the fall of Napoleon's Empire, lots of royals and nobles sponsored public parties to keep the commoners from seeing how they were being duped by the elite. Believe it or not, it worked--for a while. Then some crop failures sent food prices through the ceiling, the peasants stopped attending the free balls and the revolutions of 1848 toppled governments all over Europe.

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  8. 11:30 and the point is???

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  9. The point is that we should understand the socio-economic system in which we're forced to exist. When we see how toys are used to keep us from thinking about changing the system, we can enjoy the playthings without being the ruling class' dupes. The cars are great. Now let's get to work and build a better system in which the elite won't throw us to the economic wolves.

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  10. 11:45 - I love buying new toys - and if you are being duped, you only have yourself to blame. You sound like you have a self driven miserable life.

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  11. What I have is some comprehension of how our system works and an awareness of its built-in defects. By the way, I'm glad that you enjoy buying new toys and hope you acquire many more. The elite class is the enemy, NOT you. Have fun!

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  12. 12:35 - you said "What I have is some comprehension of how our system works". That's only in your mind. Let the rich get richer - I love capitalism!

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  13. I get a big rush out of earning good money, spending it, and supporting capitalism. I have so many toys in my garage and basement - more than I can justify.

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  14. I'm happy that you're having fun. Just don't let the greedy piggies who run this system rob you or throw you to the wolf. Capitalists are good at pretending to be your friends while you're useful to them. However, the moment they can outsource your job to Elephant Country or Dragon Land, they'll do it and blame you for your misfortune. Buy all the toys you want but don't fall for their fibs.

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  15. I would love to know the total amount of HORSEPOWER on display, has to be atleast 10,000 HOSERPOWER.
    Yeah Baby !

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  16. 3:56 - I don't think you would be useful to anyone, so you have nothing to worry about.

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  17. "Farty", is that you?

    Nah, must be your brother or sister, you would be rambling on about emissions and such. Get a life!

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  18. Dear 4:12 PM, I'll let your insult pass. However, even if you're right about me, you could end up minus your position if some snouted sneak were to outsource your job to Changsha or Chennai. For your own protection, never trust the corporate porkers. Meanwhile, have fun with your toys!

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  19. Well, I see these guys have a hobby, now they need to get a life. You're not in High school anymore fellas. Unimpressive. Just my opinion, before you hacks start attacking.

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  20. And here i thought it was just a car show. Lighten up peoples!

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  21. Dear 10:58 AM, Don't I wish that we could lighten up! Unfortunately, we've got a depression, two wars, the highest minority infant mortality rate in the state, a school district that stages idiotic musicals but can't educate the kiddies and property taxes from hell which are driving our elderly citizens out of their homes. Instead of dealing with these problems, we play with toys and pretend that our afflictions aren't there. I'm sorry to sound like Scrooge, but escapism is sheer folly and will just worsen our woes.

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  22. 10:58 - you are so sad - ever consider checking out. sounds like the only solution for you.

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  23. Dear 10:58, If it weren't for my religious beliefs, that would be an option for a victim of the system. However, my Irish Dad taught me to live so that I might contribute to the non-violent destruction of capitalism. (I work for its peaceful and legal eradication. Even so, there are others who yearn to see our evil system and the ruling class go down in blood and fire. For everyone's sake, please pray that the coming revolutionary movement will use non-violent and legal methods only.)

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  24. Coming revolutionary movement - That is too funny. Fortunately the elite will keep the few of you wacko's right in their place, since you don't do anything yourself to improve your lifestyle. Don't think you are going to get the money from us. The revolt is already happening and that revolt is to get the likes of Obama and is ideas killed. We'll pick off one at a time - e.g. ObamaCare

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  25. We are far more numerous than you and your arrogant tribe can imagine. Since we maintain a low profile, you may even have us among your co-workers and associates. Pray that believers in legal, non-violent change may prevail, because other would-be revolutionaries follow a philosophy of life which you and I wouldn't endorse. I wish you peace and prosperity--I ask only that you reciprocate and refrain from threatening others.

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  26. Dear 11:18, Why are you so hostile toward President Obama? The poor guy is trying to do the best he can to get us out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Let's never forget that the free marketeers you seem to admire got us into this mess. Meanwhile, have fun with your toys and please, for your own protection, DON'T threaten other people.

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  27. Dear 11:18, Whether you and I like it or not, some form of socialized medicine will prevail in our land. If you think that right-wing ranting and raving will halt the march of progress, you're in for a surprise. Every other developed post-industrial country has it. It's time for America to join the civilized world.

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  28. I'm not sure where to start - the revolutionary guy is so far off base I suggest he get some mental illness help. He seems to behallucinating. As far as Obama - how long can you blame Bush. His his spending economic plan is not working - 16% unemployment in Racine - his ObamaCare is being dismantled day by day because most Americans like the current plan better than his, so basically Obama has done noting to improve the country. Oh, the one thing he did do is to degrade a highly respected police officer - and play the race card.

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  29. Bush brought us a depression by dragging us into the totally-unnecessary Iraq war--I guess his Big Oil buddies wanted an excuse to seize the oilfields which the Iraqis had nationalized back in the seventies. Because of Bush, thousands of our troops died for the caviar crew and the rest of the War Street leeches. And since Bush believed in free markets, his wealthy friends played games with our banki8ng system and destroyed the lives of millions of ordinary Americans. No wonder the common people rose up and elected President Obama. We needed a change from the elitist corporate regime in Washington. Please pray that President Obama and his friends rebuild our economy--the Republicans certainly won't!

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  30. He is trying to build a Socilistic economy - but the people are saying hell no. He will be a one term president.

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  31. Maybe so, but Obama is still the President. Why are you so anti-socialist? Socialist France has the best healthcare system in the world while our system is on a par with Costa Rican medicine. Ordinary people in socialist Denmark live better than we do--no corporate pig makes them put in more than forty hours per week. Also, most socialist countries in Europe give their workers five weeks paid vacation each year. In this sad land, we get nothing but lots of drudgery, little pay and zero respect. Why shouldn't we want socialism here? It's the only hope that ordinary people have and the sole, solitary system which protects us from exploitation.

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  32. 12:49 - you lazy bastard.

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  33. Nope--the lazy bastards are the idle rich who work us to death for their fun and profit. Be honest: wouldn't you like five weeks paid vacation and a forty hour work week? Most folks I know hate what they do for a living. They jump through the hoops because richie-poo makes them do it. Over in Western Europe the governments protect toilers from the privileged class and its obscene demands. The sooner work ceases to dominate rank-and-file Americans' lives, the better!

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  34. In Europe people work to live but they don't live to work. Thank goodness, they aren't afflicted with our frenetic work ethic. We're saddled with this bunk because King James the First couldn't solve his Puritan problem. Since he didn't eradicate those grim fanatics and he allowed them to infest his colonies, we've been stuck with their crap for centuries. However, we've made some progress: we no longer hang witches the way those self-righteous twits did in Salem. Maybe we'll outgrow their notions about work and start treating ordinary people as human beings.

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  35. 10:32 you said "Most folks I know hate what they do for a living." What pathetic statement along with your other comments - if people don't like their jobs then they should do something about it - you and your poor souls are just whiners.

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  36. Like what? For most ordinary folks there aren't any decent jobs which pay a living wage. Face it--most work is nasty. If the richie-poos make us do their dirty work, the least they should do is pay us decently and cap the work week at forty hours. If you really want to know what our crappy capitalist system does to toilers and other unfortunate people, get Barbara Ehrenreich's commentary from the 8/9/09 New York Times and read it. The article is entitled "Is It Now a Crime to Be Poor?". Believe me, it will tell you what our system is. (As for your complaints about whiners, this is just the start of the wail-fest. Richie-poo's campaign to silence the poor is rapidly ending in defeat. What you call whining is the common man's demand for social justice. One way or another,he'll drown out the elitists and their ambitious middle class lackeys.)

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  37. 2:34 - whining will never get you anywhere and if you do nothing, the richi poos as you call them will stomp the likes of you into oblivion.

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  38. Not if enough of us whine, organize and elect men who'll stomp richie-poo into the goo. That's what the workers did in Western Europe. Step one was accepting the fact that they were toilers, not future millionaires. Step two was lots of strikes, demonstrations and whining to call attention to the need for change. Step three was the formation of strong political parties to promote workers' interests. Step four was the election of pro-labor officials and the installation of governments which serve the ordinary people. (Here in what I call "The Benighted Snakes," we're stuck at step one because too many fools have fallen for richie-poo's fairy fibs about individual achievement and upward mobility. No wonder most European workers think we're dumb!)

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  39. 7:44 you get ready to get stomped on, the rich are going to take back tis Obama socialistic agenda. You have no place in society - and we will make sure you are driven down and stomped on.

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  40. I'm not trembling. Mister, there are men waiting to change this country--men who'll make President Obama look like Mitt Romney. As the economy heads south, more and more Americans will have the can-do cockiness and Horatio Alger nonsense knocked out of them. Once ordinary citizens wise up, they'll rise up and demand a planned economy. Every other developed post-industrial country has done the same thing. Our U.S.A. will be no exception to the rule.

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  41. Dear 10:12, You're pretty violent, aren't you? Threatening to stomp on people could backfire on you. For your sake, I hope you don't get caught in an urban insurrection. Believe me, if that happens, you'll learn respect for the folks you execrate as "whiners."

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  42. The so-called whiners I heard and saw in the Detroit Insurrections of 1967 and 1968 managed to roast entire city blocks. When they weren't burning white or Asian property, they were busy shooting at people whom they viewed as their oppressors. Please pray that we don't experience encores. From what I've heard, today's Motown marauders may try to fry Cobo Arena and the Institute of Fine Art. Anyone who dismisses America's angry minority poor as "whiners" has never been trapped in a building surrounded by them as I was in July of 1967. I had to huddle in a corner while they looted and burned every Korean-owned business in the Cass Corridor.

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  43. 3:33 - you are an idiot. Try living in today's world. We would not allow some low class, ignorant people out of their neighborhoods -they know better.The trash in this city know their place and they will always be held back.

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  44. Dear 3:33, May God forgive you for calling His poor "trash." No one should do this to any human being. If you and your elitist pals think you'll be able to pen the paupers in what you think is their proper place, guess again. Today's poor have access to vehicles, guns and ammo. They'll make their grandpas and dads who burned Detroit look like Boy Scouts.

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  45. Dear 5:17, People, even very disadvantaged people, are NOT trash. I hope you never witness what a cousin of mine saw in Philadelphia when African-American insurrectionists torched businesses and homes. They didn't burn the slum--they fried a touristy district full of eighteenth-century buildings. Today's poor are smart and they will go where they must to teach the rich some sad lessons.

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  46. Sooner or later, the denizens of impoverished Rat-Scene will settle accounts with the privileged citizens of radiant Ray-Scene. Just look at the demographics: the paupers vastly outnumber the solvent population. Then take a look at a map of our city--there are pockets of poverty right on the margin of our downtown and the posh Victorian district. When the word is given,the people you so cruelly called "trash" will vent their rage on the upper-middle class. Remember, unlike the rioters back in the sixties, modern paupers are mobile. Nearly all of them either own a "beater" or know somebody who has wheels and will share them. The question is not whether the poor will rise up. Rather it's the flashpoint plus date of the coming insurrection. (No, I'm NOT threatening anyone. I'm just speaking as a historian who survived several of these events. Alas, the snide self-appointed defenders of capitalism who think they'll "stomp" on the poor and teach them their "place" are in for a rude awakening.)

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  47. The trash are trash because they are lazy and do nothing to improve their life - are they going back to high school and getting their degree's, are they going on to college with the free money that is available, are they going to technical school, are they learning a trade? No they are doing nothing - bring it on, we'll pick you off like pheasantsin the sky. Trash is useless to society.

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  48. If anybody is doing nothing, it's the idle rich. Don't attack their victims. And, by the way, if you're not rich, what do you get out of threatening to harm the poor? Are you hoping that the Waxies will give you brownie points or cash for helping them oppress the less fortunate classes?Most of the paupers you scorn work or look for employment. By contrast, the exploiter class and its lackeys live off other people's labor. Are you looking for lazy loafers to scold? Well, go to any place where trust fund brats and oligarchs spend their unearned dough.

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  49. Yea - isn't it great the trash service the rich - and it is you that brought violence into the conversation. And lastly SCJ is always your cop out - how stupid of you. Try something a little more original. We are not all associated with SCJ.

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  50. How dare you call any of God's children "trash"! And, NO, it ISN'T great that they are forced to serve the rich. Much of the conduct which you deplore such as laziness, immorality and dishonesty came into the paupers' lifestyles thanks to the terrible examples set by their oppressors. As for SCJ, I don't blame it for all of the evil in this town. I freely admit that other corporations as well as individuals must share the blame. Still, there is no denying the paramount role of SCJ in the corruption of this community.

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  51. Capitalism at its best!

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  52. No, inhumanity at its worst! Trust me, I've survived more urban insurrections than I care to count: we're on the verge of the perfect anti-capitalist storm. The conditions in our country perfectly parallel those which prevailed in France immediately anterior to the Revolution of July, 1789. Like our government, France's Old Regime had run up record deficits, had emptied the treasury to finance unpopular foreign wars and had failed to control the nation's borders. In the name of free trade, the French government had weakened the craftsmen's guilds and had let importers flood the country with cheap foreign products. Thousands of skilled workers lost their jobs. Meanwhile, the rich and the well-to-do classes were raking in huge profits which they blew on ostentatious luxury items guaranteed to arouse the resentment of the rest. The combination of an imprudent, arrogant privileged class' extravagance coupled with the sheer inability of the government to rule the realm brought matters to a head. The result was the fall of the Old Regime and five years of chaos followed by dictatorship in the forms of the Directorate, the Consulate and Napoleon's militaristic Empire. Anyone who says that it can't happen here is living in Lighthouse La-La Land. Despite its greatness, our nation isn't exempt from the laws of history. As a Christian, I pray that you and yours may emerge unscathed from the impending ordeal.

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  53. Dear 8/20/2009 7:58 A.M., Did you say you'd pick off the "trash" like "pheasants in the sky"? If so,I pity you because that's exactly what France's elite said right before the 1789 Revolution.(Among Gallic noblemen, pheasant hunting was a popular sport and references galore to it appear in their journals and other personal papers.) Alas, by and large, the peasants and urban workers slaughtered the Old Regime's ruling class. Even in the Vendee--a region where many commoners liked the rich and tried to save their lives--the Revolutionaries exterminated the aristocracy. The same thing happened in the city of Lyons despite the silk workers' affection for some of their bosses. For your own protection, please don't equate the less-fortunate with easily-bagged game birds.

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  54. You are right game birds are of more value.

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  55. I pray that God's poor may not give you a long-overdue lesson in respect for your fellow-men. Please remember that the unfortunate are your brothers and sisters, not subhumans created for you to use and abuse. Your hubris cries out to heaven for correction: please correct it yourself before Someone Else does.

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  56. 2:54 - is that a threat?

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  57. No, I would never threaten anyone. However, there is a God and I tremble for all of us when I reflect that that He is just. Those of us who've enjoyed some advantages haven't been very nice to our poor brothers and sisters. By the way, I will always pray for your safety and prosperity. You need never worry that I would wish you any harm.

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