ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Florence Weikal-Bottorff, 90 years old, born on October 25, 1915, and passed away on January 27, 2006. We will remember her forever.
January 27
January 27
Mom Florence as Linda has told you we are in Pensacola, Fl. for an encampment.
And she told you about her surgery coming up Feb. 5. We will be back home Sunday. Other than that we have been through several storms and freezes, and we, the house and yard have survived, We are doing good overall, Our house is strong, we have a 6.5KW generator to keep the lights on and refrigerator and freezer cold. Well we will be going off to Dinner soon. Until next time we take care of each other.John
January 27
January 27
Hello mommy.
It is hard to believe that it has been 18 years since you left me. I miss you every day.
We are in Pensacola, Florida for a National Sojourners Conference and Encampment.
On February 5, 2024 I will be having total knee replacement surgery (which is my 1st surgery every). I am sort of looking forward to it, but am very nervous.
My traveling will be limited until after May 8, 2024.
Again, I love you very much and miss our talks.

Love your daughter Linda
October 25, 2023
October 25, 2023
Happy Heavenly birthday mommy. I sure do miss our talks and your advice.
As John said, I hurt my left knee on August 14, 2023, but it didn't start bothering me until August 18, 2023. Went to hospital ER by ambulance and they said torn ACL & PCL, but since I came home and have seen an orthopedic institute people and have had an X-Ray and an MRI they said a torn meniscus and the ligaments behind my knee are completely gone. I go this Friday October 27, 2023 to see the surgeon and find out when I will be having the surgery. I am not lookin forward to my very first surgery.
We have a few places still to go before the end of the year, so I will tell the surgeon that anytime after the second week of December or the first of the year will work.
I guess you have seen my Cousin Bobby (your nephew). I still can't believe that he is gone. Give my love to all our family.
Have a great Heavenly birthday.
I miss and love you so much mommy.

Love your daughter
October 25, 2023
October 25, 2023
Well, Happy Heavenly Birthday, Linda will be telling you about her leg injury, we will be going to see the surgeon to find out if she needs surgery or something else. The injury has slowed our travels somewhat, We stay close to home , but we did go to Cocoa ,FL about 4 hour drive, went to a meeting, spent the night in a hotel drove back home, after breakfast. Our next trip will be to Augusta , Ga for the annual Encampment then home. If you can appear to Linda in a dream, she would like that. Take care , while doing what you are doing. John
January 28, 2023
January 28, 2023
Hi Mom Florence, as Linda has told you we are traveling again, we will be going to Tampa for an Heroes degree on the 18th of Feb. Then to Georgia for an encampment. March we go to Orlando for the SEABEE Birthday, then April on to Knoxville Tn. for a wreath laying ceremony at the grave of one of the founders of the Heroes of 76. I think we will be home for May then June on to Harrisburg PA, for the National Convention. then spend some time near indianoplis, IN, then back home. we are doing just fine, Linda is keeping track of my BP, thank you for raising Linda to be the smart woman she is.
Love
John
January 27, 2023
January 27, 2023
Hello mommy,
It is hard to believe it has been 17 years since you went to be with Jesus. I still miss you everyday. I miss talking to you. Miss your advice and understanding of things that were going on in my life.
John and I are in Pensacola, Florida for an Encampment with the National Sojourners. We have a busy schedule this year and for the next few years leading up to John being National Commander with the Heroes of '76 with the National Sojourners.
I don't know to much to say. It has been cool here in Florida lately, but California sure has had their share of rain. Barbara and I keep in touch a lot as we are both working on the family tree. She is finding info out on her mom's side that has been a mystery all these years.
I love you so very much.
Your loving daughter, Linda
October 25, 2022
October 25, 2022
Happy Birthday in Heaven, as Linda has mentioned she has our trips planned for the next 12 months,, trying to stay up to date with relatives.
Seems like our age group is passing on and I guess that is to be expected. Anyway, we will keep hanging on one day at a time. Thank you again for raising such a good woman. Until next , you take care doing what you do in the place where you are.
Love you , John Hillyer
October 25, 2022
October 25, 2022
Happy Heavenly 107th birthday today mommy.
We are in Opelika, Alabama for John's family reunion. Yesterday we went to Huntsville, Alabama to see Gene's Cousin Mary Francis Owen and her husband Tommy. He is in rehab and not doing good at all.
We leave tomorrow for Wetumpka, Alabama for a few days and we plan on going to some towns nearby including Laurel, Mississippi.
I sure do miss talking to you. You helping me with issues.
We are still doing a lot of traveling. I already have our 2023 Itinerary filled out for all the places that we will be going.
Bottorff family reunion is in June and we made our 1st in person this year. If, more people don't show up then they are talking about calling it off after 2023 reunion. I pray not. Same goes for John's family reunion. It was a sad showing this year after two years of not having a reunion because of COVID.
Well, give a hug to our family.
Have a special day.
Love your daughter, Linda
May 8, 2022
May 8, 2022
Dear Florence, here is wishing you a heavenly Mothers day..

Love, John
May 8, 2022
May 8, 2022
  Mom Florence, since we last talked, Linda and I have been to Thomasville, Ga. to help present a revolutionary war soldier a marker for his grave, we were involved in the historical flags program, November 2021in Tampa, Fl. and we did go to Baton Rouge, LA. earlier this month for the National Sojourners Mid Winter Meeting. It was cold and wet, but we found a good seafood restaurant near the hotel and our favorite in Gulfport, MS. called White Caps, we went by there on the way home. Jan.29th we are going to the 40th wedding anniversary of Gil and Diane Roser our Pastor and his wife, here in LIve Oak. Then on Feb. 18 we are driving to Alabama, gulf coast for a Heroes of 76 Area encampment, Linda and I will wear our colonials, then June we will be in Atlanta, Ga. for a week for the Sojourners Annual Convention. Yep we are back to traveling. YTry to visit Linda in her dreams.

May 8, 2022
May 8, 2022
Happy Mothers Day.
I miss you so very much. I love you very much also.
I wish I had just one more day to talk to you and hear your voice.
Love you, Your only daughter
January 27, 2022
January 27, 2022
Hello mommy, it has been 16 years since you left me as you were called home to be with our Heavenly Father. I miss you everyday. I miss our talks, I miss hearing your voice and most of all I miss you and your advice.
So much is happening. Tiffany and her husband Jeff have another beautiful baby that they named Raelynn Olivia Coates was born April 15, 2021 and Tia and her fiance' Taylor Downey have a beautiful baby girl that they named Charlotte Faith Downey was born on March 4, 2021 and they have nicknamed her Charlie Girl. Both babies are beautiful. I will be seeing both of them later this year in Bentonville, Arkansas when Tia and Taylor get married, October 23, 2022
As John told you we have a lot of trips planned. But, also in June after we go to the National Sojourners Annual Convention we will be going to Indiana for the Bottorff reunion and then travel to see other sites also.
John's family reunion on October 29, 2022.
Barbara Weikal Murray has now had both of her eyes worked on and she says it feels great. Seeing very well.
Mommy, I sometimes wonder WHY you didn't want to have the heart surgery that would have kept you around longer. The odds that the doctor gave you was great. I wish I could understand. I would have loved to been able to be there with you when the end of your life happened, but I was taking care of Gene who passed the following year. I hope that you were able to be there to welcome him to Heaven. I have lost so many family members so close together. There was 2004 was Uncle Roy, 2005 was Uncle Art and 2006 was you and my step sister Norma. Then 2007 was Gene, 2008 was Aunt Lois, and so on.
I am doing very well. John is taking such good care of me. I wish you could have meet him. Daddy was present when John proposed to me as we had gone out there for daddy's 98th birthday and then just about 15 days later daddy passed. I pray that before you passed you had in your heart to forgive him for the divorce. We had started to get close after Bernice passed.
One good thing is that you got to see your babies that you lost, before you had me.
I love and miss you so much.
Your loving daughter, Linda
January 27, 2022
January 27, 2022
  Mom Florence, since we last talked, Linda and I have been to Thomasville, Ga. to help present a revolutionary war soldier a marker for his grave, we were involved in the historical flags program, November 2021in Tampa, Fl. and we did go to Baton Rouge, LA. earlier this month for the National Sojourners Mid Winter Meeting. It was cold and wet, but we found a good seafood restaurant near the hotel and our favorite in Gulfport, MS. called White Caps, we went by there on the way home. Jan.29th we are going to the 40th wedding anniversary of Gil and Diane Roser our Pastor and his wife, here in LIve Oak. Then on Feb. 18 we are driving to Alabama, gulf coast for a Heroes of 76 Area encampment, Linda and I will wear our colonials, then June we will be in Atlanta, Ga. for a week for the Sojourners Annual Convention. Yep we are back to traveling. Try to visit Linda in her dreams.

Love, John

January 27, 2022
January 27, 2022
I remembered her this week as I sorted photos and saw some of her. Ila June
October 25, 2021
October 25, 2021
Hello mommy, I sure do miss our talks on the phone, my visits to visit you.
You would really have like John. He is caring and loving and takes such good care of me and I take good care of him also.
As John said, we are traveling a lot.
Tiffany has married and now how two beautiful children (a boy: Jackson and a girl: Raelynn Olivia), Tia is engaged to be married in 2022 and has a beautiful daughter with her fiance Taylor. Their little girl's name is Charlotte Faith Downey. Tia is living in Bentonville, Arkansas now and we will be seeing her in 2022 and then go again for the Wedding in 2022. Can't wait to meet Charlotte (or as they call her "Charlie girl").
California is finally getting some much needed rain, but it is raining a lot so hopefully they don't get mudslides.
I know by now that you know that Lorraine has passed as I am sure you and Uncle Roy were there waiting for her.
I love you.
Your daughter
October 25, 2021
October 25, 2021
Mom Florence, Linda and I are still doing great, we have been on the road, June we went to Milwaukee, WI. for a week National Sojourners Convention, then onto Indianapolis, IN for site seeing, we have been to Laurel, Miss. and Wetumka, AL. again for site seeing,. we went to Tampa,Fl, Alachua ,FL. and Jacksonville FL, for Chapter meetings, it was the National President official visit , a trip to Florida National Cemetery, for the service of a friend. In November we will be in Tampa, for NMCB-14 Alumni Assoc. reunion, where we will assist in the presentation of the historical flags of the United States, Jan 2022 we go the Baton Rouge, LA. You take as best care of yourself up there. Your son in law John
January 27, 2021
January 27, 2021
Hello mommy,
It has been 15 years since God called you home to be with Him. It is still hard on me each year to enjoy my birthday knowing that 5 days after you would be gone.
I don't understand why you thought I would be better off without you around. I miss you so much.
I also don't understand why you wouldn't have the heart surgery that would have kept you around a little longer.
I miss our talks, I miss the advise you always gave me, I miss hearing your voice.
I really wanted to see you before you passed. It had been 5 years before that we saw each other. It is really hard on me, even though I have a really great guy in my life now that is helping me cope.
I remember one of our calls after your brother Art (my uncle) passed in 2005 and you asked me if you were going to die the following year, because your other brother LeRoy (my uncle) passed in 2004. I told you NO, because you didn't have any health issues (that I knew of), but I guess you did and didn't tell me. I feel hurt that you didn't tell me. I realize that I was taking care of Gene and I had a lot on my plate, but I feel bad that you kept things from me.
I miss you so much. I sometimes wish that I could hear your voice one last time or see you in a dream one last time, to where you would tell me that you are doing well, and that you are proud of how I did after Gene passed away the following year in 2007. The week after you passed my step-sister Norma passed away on February 3, 2006.
Then in 2008 I lost Aunt Lois (daddy's last living sister), in 2012 daddy's wife Bernice passed away, in 2013 Lillian Lanning passed and then 2014 daddy passed away, 2015 my sister-in-law Carolyn Joiner Griffin passed then in 2019 my other sister-in-law Annette Joiner Davis passed. So, as you can see, I have lost a lot of people in just a few years of each other and it is really hard for me to cope with it all. I really am trying. John is so wonderful and is helping me a lot, but my insides always start acting up about a week before an Anniversary of someone that I love and care about birthday or death date and I do a lot of crying and not coping well.
I miss you mommy. I hope all this that I have typed really helps me get everything off my chest and I can start living a life of no problems before a date that reminds me.
I love you so much.
Your loving daughter.
January 27, 2021
January 27, 2021
Mom Florence, Linda sure does miss you, I you could appear to her in a dream or such so she could see and hear you, it might help her find inner peace. Also we are going to get our vaccinations for the Covid-19 virus soon. We pray that GOD will help keep the politicians from destroying our country and maybe the next president after this one will do a better job of uniting our country. All we can do is pray and vote.
Anyway as Linda says Happy going home day to you.

Your Son n law, John
December 24, 2020
December 24, 2020
Mom, Florence Linda and I are doing just fine, as Linda has mentioned we are not going on as many trips as we did, we are only traveling to Doctors visits, and local Masonic meetings. We go to the church , if the weather permits now that the restrictions have been lifted. Linda goes to Publix, from time to time, most of our other shopping is done online and delivered . Staying home and staying well.

Merry Christmas, John
December 22, 2020
December 22, 2020
Merry Christmas mommy. This year has been crazy with the Covid-19 virus. Haven't been able to travel like we have done in the past few years. Hopefully it will be better next year, as we have several places to go to.
I miss talking to you and hearing your voice.
I LOVE YOU so very much.
Have a very Merry Christmas in Heaven where you get to celebrate with our Lord and Saviour.
October 25, 2020
October 25, 2020
Mom Florence, Happy Birthday, Well Linda is slightly stir crazy with all of the shutdown and self quarantine, but the Governor is starting to release the citizens from restrictions, so we will be traveling a little more, we will be going to Jacksonville , Fl. a place called St. Marys Seafood for a Sojourners meeting.
on Nov. 6th we are going to Kissimmee, Fl for a NSVA Dept. of Fla, one day convention. I will keep better care of Linda, I want to keep her around for a while, Love , John
October 25, 2020
October 25, 2020
Happy 105th birthday mommy.
This year has been crazy. Most everything has been cancelled because of COVID-19.
We did manage to go to John's Battalion reunion for the Seabees, a virtual wedding, an actual wedding and in a few weeks we will be going to a meeting in Kissimmee, Florida.
I sure miss our talks. I miss you and I love you.
Your one and only daughter
January 27, 2020
January 27, 2020
It is always good to remember a good life. Florence touched others with her cards. 
January 27, 2020
January 27, 2020
Mommy, I miss you so much.
Hard to believe that it has been 14 years since you went home to be with God.
As John said, we are very busy traveling, but do take time for ourselves.
Give my love to all of our family. I keep in touch with Momma Moore. She is doing great. Tony has had some health issues, but he is keeping our house in good shape.
Love ya always.
January 27, 2020
January 27, 2020
Mom Florence, here we are again, another year has gone by, Linda and I are still happy and having a good time traveling, Jan. 2020 we were in nearby Jacksonville, Fl. for a week for the MWM of the National Sojourners, our next big adventure will be March in Arlington, Va. for the Mid Year Executive Committee Meeting of the Navy Seabee Veterans of America. Then some time to our selves, before our trips in June. As you probably know conditions here in the physical plane are not the best, the Democrats are trying to remove a legally elected President but with Gods help we will overcome.

Love,
John
October 25, 2019
October 25, 2019
Happy Heavenly 104th birthday mommy. I so miss hearing your voice when we talked on the phone. I miss coming to visit you.
As, John told you we are off for another adventure today. Love the traveling.
I have been doing a lot of reading lately. I have 4 authors that I love to read their stories. I have been enjoying doing our family tree. Both your side of the family (Which we have royalty) and daddy's side of the family tree (Which he has royalty on his side also). Barbara and I are working on the tree together. Also, Tiffany (who is a mommy now) is on Ancestry and so is Tia. I am hoping that they start their own tree.
Tia, has a new beau. He looks like a nice guy. Tara is (I think) still seeing a nice looking guy also.
Well, again HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY MOMMY.
Love you and miss hearing your voice. Give all of our family a hug and kiss for me.
Am loving the new Church that I am going to. As you know, I left the Community of Christ Church. I couldn't go with the non Bible teachings. I needed to have the Bible in my life. It was the hardest decision that I had to do. But, with God's help I did it.
Your loving daughter.
October 25, 2019
October 25, 2019
Mom Florence, we are off again, leaving today for a family reunion in Opelika, Al. we leave there on the 27th, drive to Charleston, SC, over nite stop, then on to Ashville, NC for Seabee Battalion alumni reunion, on the 31st of Oct, we leave for Hindsville, Ga. for a two day Heroes encampment, then home on the 3rd of November. Linda will probably drive all the way, she seems to like it. Anyway wish us luck, keep us safe from crazy drivers.

Love, John
January 30, 2019
January 30, 2019
We remembered her at church last Sunday
January 27, 2019
January 27, 2019
Mom Florence, as Linda has said we have been traveling, and if I am voted in as Sentinel for the Hero's line of National Sojourners then will will be traveling more. But, we schedule extra days for site seeing and we have been driving more more and seeing this beautiful country of ours, Linda had a blast driving the Alaska Highway through Canada and back . We have a good time with our life. I try comfort her at times like these. Thank you for raising as well as you did.
John
January 27, 2019
January 27, 2019
Mommy, on this day 13 years ago you left me to be with Jesus.
I love and miss you everyday. I miss our talks, I miss you listening to my problems and helping me through life's struggles.
John and I are still doing a lot of traveling. We just got back from Tucson, Arizona. February/March we will be in DC again. June we are driving to Omaha, Nebraska and when we get home we will be flying to Irvine, California and going to my 50th Class reunion. Will see Tiff and Jeff's new baby Jackson. Will go by and see Mrs. Moore if we have time.
Love you.
Your daughter, Linda
December 21, 2018
December 21, 2018
Merry Christmas mommy. Knowing that you are celebrating with our Heavenly Father for his glorious birthday. Love and miss you.
Love your daughter.
October 25, 2018
October 25, 2018
Mom Florence, we are doing great getting ready to take a trip tomorrow. be back Sunday. Linda really misses you but is adjusting as time goes by.
your son in law, John
October 25, 2018
October 25, 2018
I remember her collection of little colored bottles.
October 25, 2018
October 25, 2018
Happy 103rd. birthday today mommy. I so miss you very much. I miss our talks on the phone.
We have had an exciting year so far. We went to Norfolk, Virginia in June, then in July the first weekend we were in Texas for a wedding reception for John's step grandson and then July to August we did the biggest trip ever, we drove to Alaska. It was so beautiful and on the way back from Alaska we stopped at Barbara's house and picked up your teacups and saucers that I had given you and also picked up the antique marble table that belonged to Great Grandmother. Then at the end of August and beginning of September we drove to Connecticut. WOW!! That was an adventure. Especially driving through New York. Never again will I drive through New York.
This weekend we are going to a Hilyer/Hillyer reunion in Alabama. It is our first one. Will meet a lot of John's family that we never have meet before.
How do you love Tiffany Weikal Coates new baby. He is so handsome, but of course she and her husband Jeff are great looking couple.
Well, mommy. You have a great birthday today.
Love you always and forever, Your loving daughter
January 27, 2018
January 27, 2018
Mom, Linda has mentioned our trips, but other things we have done is last March we purchased a new 2017 Chevrolet Malibu and November we also purchased a new 2017 Chevrolet Silverado, Which we drove to Nashville recently, Life for us is great.
Love, John
January 27, 2018
January 27, 2018
Hello mommy, Just wanted to wish you a Happy 12 year Anniversary of your going home to Heaven.
I am having such a wonderful life with my husband John. We do a lot of traveling. In July we are taking the biggest trip that we have ever done and will be driving to Alaska and then home. We will be gone about a month.
Some of our other trips have taken us to D.C., New York, Georgia, Tennessee, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Virginia, South Carolina, Nebraska, Minnesota, California, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and North Carolina, so far.
I would have done this message sooner, but we were at a wedding in Clearwater, Florida. One of John's Great Granddaughter got married today. Beautiful wedding.
I am now a member of the DAR.
I sure do miss talking to you on the phone and seeing you when I would come for a visit. Continue to watch over me.
I love you Mommy.
Your loving daughter
October 25, 2017
October 25, 2017
Happy birthday mommy. I sure do miss our talks. I miss your helping me through difficult times.
I guess you see that I have left the Community of Christ. I didn't like the direction it was going.
I am so happy for my new husband. He is a great guy. You would have liked him..
As you can see, we do a lot of traveling. I am having so much fun.
I love our home together. I just wish we had the money to do the addition onto our bedroom and still have money to renovate the guest bathroom. But, I guess that will happen in time.
I love you mommy and pray that you are having a great day and spending it with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Roy and Uncle Art and other family members.
Love you always, your one and only daughter Linda.
October 25, 2017
October 25, 2017
Mom Bottorff just want to say Thank you for raising this wonderful woman, we are having a great life together, thank you again,
Love, John
January 27, 2017
January 27, 2017
Mom Florence, as you know, your beautiful daughter and I are still happily married and doing well, seeing the world. Thank you for raising her to be who she has become.

Love, your son in law, John
January 27, 2017
January 27, 2017
Happy Anniversary of your 11 years in Heaven.
Mommy, I miss being able to talk to you. I love you.
I am having a great time with my husband. As you can tell I have been doing a lot of traveling.
Tell Grandpa, grandma, daddy, Uncle Roy, Uncle Art, Aunt Faith HELLO for me.
October 25, 2016
October 25, 2016
I remember all the cards she made by hand and distributed to friends. It was a labor of love for her.
October 25, 2016
October 25, 2016
Mommy, today you are celebrating your 101st birthday in heaven. Happy birthday. I love you and I miss you.
May 8, 2016
May 8, 2016
Happy Mother's day. Miss you so very much. I miss our talks and closeness we shared. You are my best friend and confidant.
I am so happy with my new hubby. He is a great guy.
Love your daughter
January 27, 2016
January 27, 2016
I love and miss you Mommy. It is hard to believe that you have been gone for 10 years now. You are one of my guardian angels. Love you. I sure do remember all the good times we had. Going to museums, the zoo, the movies and all the other places.
October 25, 2015
October 25, 2015
Loving wishes and memories of my dearest Aunt Florence on this, her 100th birthday. We ALL miss you and are so very thankful for all of the years we had together.
October 25, 2015
October 25, 2015
Happy 100th birthday mommy. I sure do miss talking to you. I wish that you could have met John. He is so wonderful to me. I love him so much. He takes great care of me.
Have a Happy birthday and enjoy your life with God.
May 10, 2015
May 10, 2015
Happy Mother's Day mommy. I miss you so very much. I have found a really nice guy who I married on February 27,2015. You would like John a lot. I am so happy. We will be moving to Live Oak, Florida soon. I guess you see all this. Love you mommy.
October 28, 2014
October 28, 2014
Florence, you did a good job raising Linda, my fiancee, Thank you
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January 27
January 27
Mom Florence as Linda has told you we are in Pensacola, Fl. for an encampment.
And she told you about her surgery coming up Feb. 5. We will be back home Sunday. Other than that we have been through several storms and freezes, and we, the house and yard have survived, We are doing good overall, Our house is strong, we have a 6.5KW generator to keep the lights on and refrigerator and freezer cold. Well we will be going off to Dinner soon. Until next time we take care of each other.John
January 27
January 27
Hello mommy.
It is hard to believe that it has been 18 years since you left me. I miss you every day.
We are in Pensacola, Florida for a National Sojourners Conference and Encampment.
On February 5, 2024 I will be having total knee replacement surgery (which is my 1st surgery every). I am sort of looking forward to it, but am very nervous.
My traveling will be limited until after May 8, 2024.
Again, I love you very much and miss our talks.

Love your daughter Linda
October 25, 2023
October 25, 2023
Happy Heavenly birthday mommy. I sure do miss our talks and your advice.
As John said, I hurt my left knee on August 14, 2023, but it didn't start bothering me until August 18, 2023. Went to hospital ER by ambulance and they said torn ACL & PCL, but since I came home and have seen an orthopedic institute people and have had an X-Ray and an MRI they said a torn meniscus and the ligaments behind my knee are completely gone. I go this Friday October 27, 2023 to see the surgeon and find out when I will be having the surgery. I am not lookin forward to my very first surgery.
We have a few places still to go before the end of the year, so I will tell the surgeon that anytime after the second week of December or the first of the year will work.
I guess you have seen my Cousin Bobby (your nephew). I still can't believe that he is gone. Give my love to all our family.
Have a great Heavenly birthday.
I miss and love you so much mommy.

Love your daughter
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