If you read Mr. Mark Bialczak’s post yesterday, or if you came across one of the numerous reblogs of that post, you’ll know we were missing our favourite guest poster and frequent commenter, Paul Curran. Well. I happened to be going to Ottawa today for an appointment and another blogger happened to have Paul’s address so I went and knocked on his front door. And guess what? He was there!
As it turns out he had an infection that caused complications and he was hospitalized for two weeks. Then he got home to find that his modem had blown up, so he’s been without the Internet. He seemed a little flabbergasted to find that all of WordPress was missing him and he asked me to extend his apologies for causing everyone to worry and to let you all know he appreciates that we were thinking of him. It must have been a bit of a shock to have one of us show up at his house!
If all this has shown me anything (and believe me, I’m not patting myself on the back for the little detour I made – it was really nothing) it’s that our “friends” on the Internet are every bit as real as the ones we see in person. The next time it crosses my mind that the people here in this community don’t really care, I’ll think again.
Paul is actually the sixth person I’ve met with face to face who I first encountered here at WordPress. It was a great pleasure to shake his hand. He’s every bit the gentleman we all know and love. Thankfully he’ll be back as soon as his Internet provider replaces his modem.
November 7, 2018 at 11:09 pm
Hello,
I am wondering if this page is still active. Paul was my stepdad growing up but haven’t seen him in nearly 20 years. I finally found this page today dedicated to him and knowing he’s passed is quite devastating. If anyone has any information on where he is buried, or how I can get in touch with his family, it would mean the world to me.
Thanks in advance,
Chantal
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November 8, 2018 at 8:54 am
Hi, Chantal.
I sincerely wish I could help you. I searched at the time for announcements throughout the Ottawa area but I found nothing. My best guess is that he was buried out east. I have no idea where he lived out there.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
I wish you the best of luck. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. ❤
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April 7, 2018 at 9:49 pm
Linda – I am out of words, this is so fascinating and great story…Thank you!!
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April 3, 2018 at 4:54 pm
I miss Paul soooo much.💜 I am trying to find out where he has been buried. I need to pay my respects and I would like people who know him to come down and say a few words for him . Please help me make this come true… maybe at Strathcona park?
Penny
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April 3, 2018 at 8:22 pm
I miss him too. It was an honour to have met him.
There was word when he died that he might have been buried out east, where ever it was he came from in the Maritimes. I looked everywhere for an obituary when he passed away, but I was unable to find anything.
Please do let me know if you discover his whereabouts.
Thanks for stopping by, Penny. 🙂
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April 7, 2018 at 9:32 pm
Thank you for returning my message. I am calling cemeteries in Ottawa and if I have to call all of the Maritimes, Paul knows I will do it.💜 I am hoping that he is closer to me.
I will keep you updated
Penny from the park
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April 7, 2018 at 11:32 pm
Thank you for all your caring. I’m sure Paul, with all his own determination, will be looking down on you with great appreciation.
I’ll look forward to your findings. ❤
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Pingback: We’ve lost Paul Curran, our master guest columnist and prolific comment-leaver | Mark Bialczak
December 21, 2015 at 12:39 am
So rarely on WP these days, only NOW am I learning that this man, whom I’ve been heartsick worrying about since he failed to respond to my emails in November, is well. Learning thanks to you, and a host of others. Bless you and those others (Willow, Michelle, Mark…etc.)
Much love, Linda.
❤
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December 21, 2015 at 12:45 pm
You’re welcome! Happy to ease your mind. 🙂
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December 16, 2015 at 6:45 pm
Linda, do you have phone number for Paul? If so, would you be willing to email it to me?
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December 16, 2015 at 6:36 pm
Oh! I am so glad to hear this
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December 12, 2015 at 11:29 am
This is simply wonderful, Linda. I’m late finding out Paul was found but what a happy ending! 🙂
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December 6, 2015 at 10:17 pm
Fantastic news!
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December 7, 2015 at 7:06 am
Indeed!
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December 5, 2015 at 10:27 pm
So glad he is ok.
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December 7, 2015 at 7:07 am
Me too. 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 7:50 pm
Thank goodness he is okay. That stinks he was hospitalized but it sounds like he is on the mend. It sucks about his modem as well. What relief to find out he is doing okay!!!!
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December 7, 2015 at 7:07 am
It is a relief! 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Reblogged this on Just Fooling Around With Bee and commented:
Get well soon Paul and may the internet gods bless your new most dem 😉
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December 7, 2015 at 7:08 am
Looking forward to his return. 🙂 Thanks for the reblog, Bee.
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December 7, 2015 at 7:21 am
No problem and thanks for visiting him. It was good to hear that he will be back 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 3:22 pm
This is lovely to hear. I saw your post via Jason’s reblog on Harsh Reality and had to read as it’s something that crosses my mind frequently. When I don’t see posts from people for a while I worry something is wrong. I’ve never met anyone IRL from the blogosphere but it doesn’t make them any less important. I wonder how many others would have done what you did if they had the means to pay a visit. So good on you and glad to know he’s ok!
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December 7, 2015 at 7:10 am
Thanks for dropping by, Haylee. 🙂 I’m happy my efforts turned out for the best.
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December 4, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Happy to hear that Paul is okay! Thanks for ‘showing up’ at his place – on behalf of all of us!
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December 7, 2015 at 7:11 am
You’re welcome! Thanks for dropping by, Karen. 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 12:46 pm
Linda, you are awesome!
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December 7, 2015 at 7:15 am
Aww… ’tweren’t nothin’.
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December 4, 2015 at 12:29 pm
I hope he didn’t think you were a deranged stalker and understood that he was loved and missed. Thanks for giving us all peace of mind.
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December 7, 2015 at 7:16 am
I hope so too! I don’t look very much like a stalker though. 😛 Thanks for stopping by, Kerbey. 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 11:29 am
I love happy endings!
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December 7, 2015 at 7:17 am
Me too! 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 11:23 am
I am so happy that he is alright.
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December 7, 2015 at 7:17 am
Me too! 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 11:16 am
Reblogged this on HarsH ReaLiTy and commented:
I am glad he is alright and that you are OK as well Linda… thanks for the update! -OM
Note: Comments disabled here, please visit their blog.
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December 7, 2015 at 7:18 am
You’re welcome, Cush. Thanks for the reblog. 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 9:55 am
Linda you’re amazing well done. This is wonderful news to wake up too 😃
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December 7, 2015 at 7:19 am
It is wonderful news. 🙂
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December 7, 2015 at 8:43 pm
Thank you for making it possible. 😊
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December 4, 2015 at 9:21 am
I love happy endings! (⌒▽⌒)☆
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December 7, 2015 at 7:20 am
Me too! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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December 15, 2015 at 11:09 pm
(>‿◠)✌
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Pingback: Blog Stalking Paul… | See, there's this thing called biology...
December 4, 2015 at 8:46 am
Wonderful! That’s what I was hoping for (which as I said yesterday to Mark, sounds weird. But better a blown modem than any number of things!
Thanks Linda (and NCM for sending me here.)
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December 7, 2015 at 7:21 am
It’s the best news possible. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Elyse!
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December 4, 2015 at 7:20 am
Great news!!
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December 7, 2015 at 7:22 am
I agree! Thanks for leaving a comment. 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 6:06 am
what a beautiful ending. thanks to you and mark and many other caring people, this has a happy ending. continues my belief in the inate good in people.
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December 7, 2015 at 7:25 am
I might not have had a the guts to go had it not been for the sheer number of caring souls out there, wondering where he was. 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 4:44 am
Now to get his modem fixed… 😉
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December 7, 2015 at 7:26 am
I got the impression that’s out of his control. I hope it’s replaced soon. 🙂
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December 7, 2015 at 5:20 pm
I reckon. Me too.
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December 4, 2015 at 4:42 am
Other than, thank sweet Jesus, he is ok…. I am so darn jealous you got to meet him gace to face!! Thanks babe!
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December 7, 2015 at 7:27 am
Come to North America – no shortage of people to meet over here. 😉
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December 7, 2015 at 5:20 pm
lol 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 3:29 am
Linda, thanks so, so much for bringing this great news. I’m sitting here in Ireland writing this through tears of joy and relief.
Love to Paul and everyone who cares about him here on WP.
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December 7, 2015 at 7:30 am
I’m happy to have had the opportunity to do something to help. 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 2:14 am
I am so glad to hear that all is well. Please give us a link to Paul’s blog (for those of us that don’t/didn’t know him)?
That our blog pals are a community came as an enormous surprise to me, too. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that American Soustannie (americansoustannie.wordpress.com) hadn’t posted for a while, and I got a bad feeling in my water (as the Scots would say). I reached out to her and yes, something had happened (which you can read about if you visit her blog) and she was in South Africa. As it so happened, I was going to be in Johannesburg on business, so we caught up over a cup of tea. It was my first meeting with a blog pal that I hadn’t known prior to starting blogging. I’m delighted that we did.
So, Linda thanks for dropping in on Paul and for letting us know, and reminding us that we are a caring community (although there are some bloggers who don’t get to experience and/or demonstrate it).
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December 7, 2015 at 8:18 am
Isn’t it wonderful when we get to meet a friend from our internet world? 🙂 Thanks for sharing your story, Fiona. You can find links to the blogs that Paul is most associated with on Mark’s original post. Paul doesn’t actually have a blog of his own.
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December 7, 2015 at 8:36 am
It is, indeed 🙂 Thanks, Linda, I did discover that and, of course couldn’t come and alter my comment. 😦 Appreciate your coming back to me.
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December 4, 2015 at 1:27 am
It’s not nothing to me to actually walk up to his house! Relieved. Thank you. 🙂
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December 7, 2015 at 8:19 am
🙂 It was my pleasure.
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December 4, 2015 at 1:25 am
So glad he’s safe! Well done you Linda for being so proactive! You’re right, the friendships that can be forged on here are most definitely real!
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December 7, 2015 at 8:22 am
We’re all just new-age pen pals. 🙂 Thanks for leaving a comment, Ritu.
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December 7, 2015 at 12:55 pm
☺
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December 4, 2015 at 1:11 am
We have a beautiful community in here 😀
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December 7, 2015 at 8:23 am
We do! 🙂
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December 4, 2015 at 1:09 am
Reblogged this on 1EarthUnited and commented:
Thank goodness, what a huge relief and blessing that Paul’s alright. Our WP community certainly are a caring bunch.
Linda, u’r an angel, thanks for personally checking up on “virtual” friend! 🙂
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December 7, 2015 at 9:26 am
🙂 Thanks for the reblog.
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December 7, 2015 at 4:30 pm
My pleasure, just getting the word out for those worried about Paul’s well being. Have a nice holiday Linda. 🙂
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December 3, 2015 at 11:48 pm
I am quite happy to hear that Paul is doing okay. If you see him again before he gets back on, please convey to him my best wishes.
Also, where do I sign up to join the Linda G. Hill fan club?
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December 7, 2015 at 9:27 am
Ha! Just throw money, my dear. 😉 If I see him again I’ll certainly let him know. 🙂
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December 7, 2015 at 10:57 am
Okay, I threw some money, but it hit the wall. I don’t think I can make it to Canada with my arm. 😦
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December 7, 2015 at 11:59 am
Not even with a paper airplane? Wait, you’re not actually throwing coins, are you? Pfft.
hehe
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December 3, 2015 at 10:37 pm
That’s great news and this post is so heart-warming! ❤
Diana xo
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December 7, 2015 at 9:28 am
Thanks, Diana. 🙂
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December 3, 2015 at 10:34 pm
YAY!! This is the best possible news ever. Thank you so much for finding him. Now…I wonder if he got my package 😉
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December 7, 2015 at 9:29 am
He did say he received something, but I didn’t recognize the name he mentioned. Chances are it was yours. 🙂
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December 7, 2015 at 9:38 pm
Thank you so much Linda! I have terrible handwriting, so he may not have recognized that it was from me!!
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Pingback: Mr. Paul Curran has been found! | Mark Bialczak
December 3, 2015 at 10:16 pm
Way to go, Linda G! This is the best possible outcome. Thank you for knocking on our friend’s door today. Our community rocks, my friend.
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December 4, 2015 at 12:32 pm
I have to agree 100% with Mark -Thank you for taking the time and energy to check on Paul we are soooooo happy he is well! We all here on word press care about each other and that in today’s world is so refreshing! Thank you again from all of us! Cheryl
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December 7, 2015 at 9:31 am
It was my pleasure, Cheryl. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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December 7, 2015 at 9:30 am
Couldn’t have happened without you, Mr. Mark! 😀
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December 7, 2015 at 10:19 am
Thanks for the kind words, Linda. Now we are hoping for that infernal WiFi to get hooked up so we can see the return of our Paul!
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December 7, 2015 at 10:55 am
Indeed!
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December 3, 2015 at 9:49 pm
So glad he’s been found and he’s okay. Glad you were able to go and find out and meet him.
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December 7, 2015 at 9:32 am
Me too! 🙂
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December 3, 2015 at 9:03 pm
Woohoo! What a relief. Thank you so much for going to check up on him. 🙂
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December 7, 2015 at 9:32 am
It was my pleasure. 🙂
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December 3, 2015 at 8:43 pm
Thank you so much for taking time to check on him. I’d been searching assorted blogs trying to locate word of him. Be you made his day. Thanks again
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December 7, 2015 at 9:33 am
Happy I had the opportunity to go. 🙂
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December 3, 2015 at 8:04 pm
Oh this is such good news! Thank you for the update.
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December 7, 2015 at 9:34 am
No problem. Thanks for stopping by, JoHanna. 🙂
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December 3, 2015 at 7:46 pm
Reblogged this on Cordelia's Mom, Still and commented:
Yay for Linda Hill! She had to drive for 3 hours to get to Ottawa for her appointment, and then she still managed to find our missing blogger. I agree with her that if nothing else, this proves that you can indeed make friends by blogging. I can only hope that if anything ever happens to me, I will have so many new friends come forward to help.
Now we can all breathe again and look forward to Paul Curran’s comments and guests posts as soon as he can again gain internet access.
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December 7, 2015 at 9:35 am
I’m looking forward to his return too! 🙂
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December 3, 2015 at 7:39 pm
HALLELUJAH! 🙂 Looking forward to hearing from Paul over a nice cuppa! 🙂 (YAY Mark and Linda G. Hill and everyone else!)
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December 7, 2015 at 9:36 am
Indeed, it’s good to know he’ll be back. 🙂
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December 3, 2015 at 7:15 pm
That is great news! I gotta say, this is why I LOVE the community we have here. I can only imagine how much it must mean to him to know that people care so much that they even hunt him down to knock on his door. I love it! Thank you, Linda.
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December 3, 2015 at 7:18 pm
I know, isn’t this community amazing? I’m positive he’ll be moved when he sees the outpouring of caring and support from Mark’s post. I’m happy I managed to be in the right place at the right time. 🙂
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December 3, 2015 at 8:00 pm
You weren’t just in the right place at the right time, Linda – you had to actually drive there and then find his apartment, knock on the door without knowing what kind of reception you might get, etc. You are absolutely awesome!
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December 3, 2015 at 7:07 pm
What a relief to his friends to know he is all right and safe. Your action was done in a loving fashion and got great results!
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December 3, 2015 at 7:09 pm
It is a relief. I’m very glad I took the chance and stopped at his house. 🙂
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December 3, 2015 at 7:02 pm
Reblogged this on willowdot21 and commented:
Oh! Thank Goodness! Mark Bialczak and Cordelia’s Mum Our Linda found him!!
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December 3, 2015 at 6:59 pm
Oh! Linda I am so grateful, I have been so worried! I haven’t got so used to hosting his Sunday posts!bless you<3 xxxxx
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December 3, 2015 at 7:01 pm
I’m just happy he was home! 🙂
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December 3, 2015 at 7:03 pm
So am I xxxx
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December 3, 2015 at 7:07 pm
Thanks for the reblog. 🙂
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December 3, 2015 at 7:09 pm
My pleasure 🙂
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December 3, 2015 at 6:58 pm
Reblogged this on Jdawgswords and commented:
wow…this is awesome!!!
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December 3, 2015 at 6:45 pm
That’s wonderful to hear. Infections pass and modems are fixable. Thank you, Linda. ❤
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December 3, 2015 at 6:49 pm
Yes, thank goodness. You’re welcome, Rara. 🙂
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