Post A5VpTe7fAwT3ke2JFY by TAG@social.quodverum.com
(DIR) More posts by TAG@social.quodverum.com
(DIR) Post #A5VWwgqGFIxPSD23jE by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T16:50:04Z
1 likes, 6 repeats
THREADOne more on China. This time the Chinese people in general, NOT the small minority of Han controlling the CCP.I just had a long conversation with an Aussie friend who still lives there.Preface:When I was in China it was obvious to everyone that the Chinese PEOPLE were OBSESSED with American culture - MUCH to the angry, frustrated chagrin of almost all non-American expats. The Chinese people LOVE AMERICANS AND AMERICAN CULTURE. Surprisingly, that has NOT changed since I left.
(DIR) Post #A5VXdizk7JowaDzIv2 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T16:57:50Z
0 likes, 3 repeats
Here is what happened literally hundreds of times when I was there. Like clockwork.I would be with a group of expats. Chinese people would interact. The FIRST thing they want to know is where everyone is from."Belgium.""Denmark.""Germany.""Australia."Heads nod politely to each. And I know what's coming. So does everyone else.
(DIR) Post #A5VY8lqlYFRQPpaogS by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T17:03:28Z
0 likes, 3 repeats
My turn. "America."They all light up. They found their rock star. Other expats: visibly disgusted.Me? My money's no good now. I'm their trophy friend. They want to show me off, and they're buying.The other expats are along for the ride but get no special treatment. My communist Aussie friend told me that NOTHING has changed on that front. AND, "The stupid fuckin' Chinese still respect fuckin' Trump, the dickheads!"He never knew my political leanings.Anyway, more perspective.END
(DIR) Post #A5VYbJeDUD6dLTKmrQ by lolajl@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T17:08:38Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@StevenDouglas So that explains the buddha statue.
(DIR) Post #A5VZwTZtrPG4BAy8xs by MegasAlexandros@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T17:23:38Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@StevenDouglas 80 million Americans voted for Trump... given a chance... I believe at least 800 million Chinese would vote for Trump... Trump has more support around the world than there are even Americans.
(DIR) Post #A5VZyXcTnxNRIFA0ky by janis@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T17:24:02Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@StevenDouglas From what I've read, they admire and respect strength. They crave their freedom, and they watched and approved, I assume, as Trump stuck it to the CCP as hard as he was permitted to do.All of that would appeal to them, as well as the culture.Although I've got questions about which parts of our "culture" they are enchanted with.
(DIR) Post #A5VaKibzcIzLkuVXOa by Cdubois@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T17:28:01Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
@StevenDouglas My son cowrote a song called "Welcome to the Future."I share this because there's a segment in the video that shows how much the Chinese love American music.Hope you enjoy.https://youtu.be/Y0Yg9wjctRw
(DIR) Post #A5VaVXSzOXU0NISK1I by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T17:29:59Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
@lolajl Speaking of Buddha statues, no photo can do justice to the size of this 88 meter (from toes to top), 900 ton Lingshan Grand Buddha statue in Wuxi.Approaching from a cab several miles away it looks like Godzilla standing still in the haze between two hills.I'd never seen anything like it before.
(DIR) Post #A5VadwI0zHH1g8KPkO by Cdubois@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T17:31:30Z
0 likes, 8 repeats
@StevenDouglas My son cowrote a song called "Welcome to the Future."I share this because there's a segment in the video that shows how much people "over there" love American music.Hope you enjoy.https://youtu.be/Y0Yg9wjctRw
(DIR) Post #A5Vb0HOdC4VbVj4kqW by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T17:35:32Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@janis Mostly our pop culture, but also just our way of life and thinking in general. Chinese people are PAINFULLY aware that we are, in their eyes, the creative people. They dutifully copy but find it difficult to go full right brain on anything. Mostly because they learn everything by rote memorization and there are huge risks to taking creative chances and failing.No "Try, try again", it's a loss of face.But to break out of that mold is what many want most for their children.
(DIR) Post #A5VblvkkxvQEHm98S0 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T17:44:09Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
@Cdubois DID enjoy, great song, great video, thank you, Proud as you should be Mama.
(DIR) Post #A5VbwYxe2wIWmaFEX2 by Cdubois@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T17:46:04Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@StevenDouglas So proud, Steven. My son Chris, and Brad, are biz partners. They're family men, and really good guys.
(DIR) Post #A5VcWgAUj9x1YoTbua by MegasAlexandros@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T17:52:35Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@Cdubois @StevenDouglas Just brilliant! I can’t even express how much that lifted up my hope! The kids... as I think of them in this hour of their lives all around the world... that was just about killing me!✌️❤️
(DIR) Post #A5Vco5JgTpQOTm4gXQ by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T17:55:45Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@YMKYMFOI @wokeconservative Same with Vietnam. Nothing draconian, including the one lockdown, which was treated by many as a good idea, generally speaking. As many went about their ways anyway. Mask mandates and school closures, based locally on a couple of cases here and there, are short-lived.Everyone just gets on about their business now. BIG PLUS: Loads of expat criminals and riff-raff were denied visas and sent packing, unable to return.Tourism took the biggest hit here.
(DIR) Post #A5VctwRMOWFkghSROq by Iamnata@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T17:56:48Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@StevenDouglas This is most interesting. Actually, all your stuff is interesting, but this made me smile. Here's the thing, Americans love Chinese food, and culture.
(DIR) Post #A5VdHfsrbPIOHydfzk by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T18:01:05Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@YMKYMFOI @wokeconservativeIn Wuxi I imitated a New Zillin friend (while he was standing next to me) in front of a bunch of Aussies.It was "Take The Piss" night for all because everyone got their turn in the barrel. They were all laughing and asking how I did it. I floored everyone with, "It's easy. Just start with an Aussie voice then fuck up all the vowels."
(DIR) Post #A5VdLfGTqVwxWkaWbA by Daisygirlx7@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T18:01:49Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@StevenDouglas I mean no disrespect to Aussies, as I have Aussie friends as well - but, gosh darn it, Aussies are STUPID when it comes to politics!!!!
(DIR) Post #A5VdWBDVu4z3WMDMUi by janis@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T18:03:43Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@StevenDouglas Thanks for the response, Steven. If I could, I'd apologize to them for the shoddiness of so much our culture. But I'm hoping they are more attracted to the worthier parts that come from independent thinking and positive creativity.
(DIR) Post #A5VdatdUhFGcRUcEWu by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T18:04:35Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@Iamnata Interesting factoid: Americans in China will tell you that there is no Chinese food in China.Mostly, at least what most Americans recognize as Chinese Food. What we know as Chinese food (other than Peking/Beijing Duck) originated mostly in Hong Kong. And fortune cookies are a Chinese American invention.
(DIR) Post #A5VdxURuVTS0zGyGTw by Iamnata@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T18:08:39Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@StevenDouglas A former co-worker of mine once told me this. She was born in mainland Chinese and after revolution she fled to Taiwan with her family. She is one of the most beautiful human beings I know.
(DIR) Post #A5VeWek2ERGb2mDWOO by ajthethird@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T18:15:01Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@StevenDouglas @janis this is something I've pondered, given the CCP is into stealing our intellectual property.my thoughts gravitated toward the repression of thought imposed by communists as the cause, but i'm no expert!
(DIR) Post #A5VeiH9RlVPBM5dyxk by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T18:17:06Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
@rbanta I still have contact with a few dear friends from Spain that I met in China. One is from Murcia (pronounced Moor-Thea), where my maternal great grandparents emigrated to the US from. He said basically the same thing - that Spaniards are generally very amiable to Americans, not so much to the British, "who are rude and don't tip!"
(DIR) Post #A5VfZviBh3RgUzTgsS by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T18:26:49Z
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@MegasAlexandros @janis One night I was talking to a French expat who noted how many expats who claimed they "hated Americans" actually got along very well with all of us. No problems. My French friend said, "It is the same with us. I just say, 'Hello, I am from France. I'm sorry.' With nothing left to fight about we all have a good time."
(DIR) Post #A5VfwlQ47sJPEptDDk by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T18:30:56Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
@rbanta Many claim that Americans ruined everything for Western foreigners in Shanghai.The Chinese and most Europeans and Euro-extracts don't tip. So Americans for a long time got preferential treatment. Finally, gratuity was just added to everything to discourage the disparity and preferential treatment.
(DIR) Post #A5Vgk6OkupruUbnrNI by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T18:39:51Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
Many Chinese were in love with Michael Jackson. After he died many went out to expat pubs and restaurants. To be around Westerners.One wealthy Chinese man, a locally famous owner of a textile mill in Wuxi, came into Ronnie's Australian Pub one night and sat alone at a table.He freaked everyone out by lighting a candle in an ashtray at his table, and crying his eyes out while burning around $10,000 US in real hundred dollar bills.So that Michael Jackson wouldn't be broke in the next world.
(DIR) Post #A5Vh4oJVLibAU9DnSC by lolajl@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T18:43:36Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@StevenDouglas OMG ... I'm slack-jawed.
(DIR) Post #A5Vh9uUPoZ5V5UkyKe by Chrisleon27@freespeechextremist.com
2021-03-23T18:42:56.276771Z
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@StevenDouglas Michael didn't get admitted into the white world
(DIR) Post #A5VhBsy4RXIcwnZNUe by Cdubois@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T18:44:53Z
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@MegasAlexandros ❤🌼🇺🇸@StevenDouglas
(DIR) Post #A5Vibljy2Mic0zsYWO by EllenK@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T19:00:45Z
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@StevenDouglas When Reagan was in office and deploying NATO missiles to Europe, a friend and I backpacked through Europe and the UK. Everybody had an opinion about American politics and some people were really upset. But as soon as they found out that we were Texans they embraced us! They loved everything Texan. It was quite surprising!
(DIR) Post #A5Vik5RMg2R7Qj8zAG by Momma_Voke@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T19:02:14Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
@Cdubois Great song! @StevenDouglas
(DIR) Post #A5VjH3wZGLuALPSlZw by Lonestar@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T19:08:13Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
@Cdubois @StevenDouglas First time I was in Asia, it freaked me out seeing a live band singing *American* songs. Thing about it was -- they were GOOD. There was no discernable accent, either.What's that saying about 'imitation' being the most sincere form of flattery?
(DIR) Post #A5VkFX9dmox6JbPdwm by Cdubois@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T19:19:08Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@Momma_Voke Thank you. They've done a slew of them, and still going.@StevenDouglas
(DIR) Post #A5VkLt9EvajuGSFt1U by Estherwilnot@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T19:20:17Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@StevenDouglas @Iamnata I love Peking Duck. There used to be a local restaurant here called The Peking Duck House. Loved the place. Now if I want to have it out at a restaurant, I have to call 6 hours or more in advance.
(DIR) Post #A5VntmX2KhGTS9EtLk by darulharb@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T20:00:01Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@StevenDouglas Wow. That's some "hell money."
(DIR) Post #A5VpTe7fAwT3ke2JFY by TAG@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T20:17:44Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@StevenDouglas What years were you in China? Which cities were you in? I have been in Shanghai since 2008. I have spent some time in Wuxi and used to work for Blue Marlin.
(DIR) Post #A5VrI3HY0WESDPG6hE by KodiakIsland@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T20:38:02Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
@StevenDouglas In my profession before retiring I delt w/Chinese Delegation when they visited Alaska each year. They are very friendly, shy&love our kids. They take pictures of them all the time. I surmise kids are cherished in their culture because of their 1 child policy.As usual one on one acquaintance they are lovely, sweet people.They went crazy shopping just like the Russian Delegation. The Russians were the major drinkers. CIA activity before and after their arrival/departure was major.
(DIR) Post #A5Vwg9uPWJDPUMkd60 by Linnie@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T21:38:26Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
@Cdubois I LOVED IT! WowThank you
(DIR) Post #A5VxXoMPqtrsINQxVo by Cdubois@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T21:48:07Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@Linnie Thank you so much. Chris said it took about a year to write (writing sessions throughout the year) because they were determined to get it right.
(DIR) Post #A5W7VeF7UumpsWd1LU by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T23:39:47Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
@Lonestar @Cdubois There's a Vietnamese man here, who has never been out of Vietnam, who speaks English with a flawless Tennessee accent. He's a country music fan who decided when he was young to learn his speaking skills exclusively from his three favorite CM stars, all from Tennessee. He had a couple dozen interviews with them transcribed and learned to parrot them all perfectly. That dictated everything he said after that.
(DIR) Post #A5W7kt2iknN47j5xia by Philly_Fan@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T23:42:32Z
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@StevenDouglas @Lonestar @Cdubois 3 chords and the truth. No matter the language.
(DIR) Post #A5W8V2K0aU9iDqBfN2 by MegasAlexandros@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T23:50:52Z
0 likes, 2 repeats
@StevenDouglas @Lonestar @Cdubois I knew a fellow in Greece some years back... he learned all of his English from mainly 70s & 80s situation comedies... all that was missing was the canned laughter. Totally bizarre... he had his English speaking personality... which was completely different from his too serious Greek self. 😂
(DIR) Post #A5W8e73UMESxVdmvHk by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-23T23:52:31Z
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@TAG I was in Wuxi from 2004-2010.Blue Marlin was on the other side the city from where I was but I went there several times. I lived right down the street from Tai Hu Lake on Tai Hu DaDao.
(DIR) Post #A5W9bCNKDnp95uEzFw by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T00:03:12Z
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@TAG I was in Wuxi from 2004-2010.Blue Marlin was on the other side the city from where I was but I went there several times. I lived right down the street from Tai Hu Lake on Tai Hu DaDao.My Chinese name, given to my by my Chinese language teacher, was Luo Guan Xi 罗冠西. She knew I was a writer from the local forum there, so it was a play on Luo Guanzhong, famous Three Kingdoms author. Xi (west) vs Zhong (middle, or China). So, Luo Guan from the West.
(DIR) Post #A5WAnGcKNMJJgCZoAa by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T00:16:35Z
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@Lonestar @Cdubois My nephew brought his wife and three children to Mississippi (where his wife's extended family already lived).After six months I asked how his seven year-old daughter Vanessa was doing with English. "Oh, shit. She says, 'Nah, I da wont to!' Freakiest thing in the world to listen to!"My own son one day started speaking with a British accent, including intonation. Twilight Zone! He doesn't any more, but he got it then from watching Peppa The Pig cartoons.
(DIR) Post #A5WCdswDFGTfXeX1iy by Cdubois@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T00:37:17Z
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@StevenDouglas My teen grands, born and raised in Middle TN, will go for days speaking with flawless British accents. It gets to where I start responding in kind! 😂@Lonestar
(DIR) Post #A5WD9NVpcUoVLOD2FU by Beemer4Trump@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T00:42:59Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@Cdubois @StevenDouglas Love it!! ❤️ 🇺🇸
(DIR) Post #A5WDAbjcE8ztk9F7Hk by lp_1985@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T00:43:12Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@Lonestar @Cdubois @StevenDouglas YES! I was in the Caribbean about 10 years ago and listened to a local band sing country music. They dressed up like cowboys and sounded really, really good!
(DIR) Post #A5WDK71NH4AzNn57Eu by Linnie@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T00:44:56Z
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@Cdubois Well, they sure did (get it right). I just adore country music. So cool your boy was involved.
(DIR) Post #A5WE3DgrKEh767zj5E by Cdubois@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T00:53:05Z
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@Linnie Thank you so much!
(DIR) Post #A5WEWTrCISoLdUmb2m by Linnie@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T00:58:23Z
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@Cdubois ❤️❤️❤️
(DIR) Post #A5WEzzxs05VDc7ylVo by timr@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T01:03:43Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@CduboisTerrific song! Really well done and filled with hope @StevenDouglas
(DIR) Post #A5WFBdBcVzuIRYxQXo by Brildor61@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T01:05:49Z
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@StevenDouglas 🤣🤣🤣
(DIR) Post #A5WFUux6gawL2tMiy8 by Bigbranchgirl@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T01:09:18Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
@Cdubois @StevenDouglas - very nice song. You should be proud.
(DIR) Post #A5WFvvSWuSjkR6wSMC by drew12289@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T01:14:10Z
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@StevenDouglas I enjoy watching Peppa Pig with my 2 1/2 yr old niece.@Lonestar @Cdubois
(DIR) Post #A5WLtk9WZkXqW1OXZo by MaggieMoore@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T02:21:00Z
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@Cdubois Oooooh, I got chills!I love when I get chills!Beautiful, CeCe ❤️Your son has a beautiful soul. @StevenDouglas
(DIR) Post #A5WWOdHJBS0RiIP4t6 by StevenDouglas@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T04:18:38Z
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@lizzimay For Kiwis ya gotta lick it up on a mip. There was one Aussie expat from rural Queensland who always threw me, I could barely understand a word he said most of the time.I understand most just fine in context, but there's just always an adjustment period where we have to figure out vowel and other substitutions.Never met a Kiwi I couldn't understand.Difficult American dialects are usually localized and loaded with reduced speech and strange idioms.
(DIR) Post #A5X6hKvZERDaeTS6Yy by tinadiz@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T11:05:26Z
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@StevenDouglasI am not much of a globe trotter, but...Hubby and I found and went to an Irish Pub in Copenhagen... People chatting in English... drinking at the bar,, in a distinct British accent, trashing our VSGPotus Trump... That was the moment I understood the impact of CNN. It was the only news from the US that most of those people heard. SMH...
(DIR) Post #A5X7Kbl8aMi49GIerw by Zemeliko@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T11:12:31Z
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@Cdubois Brilliant song, thanks for sharing!I love this style of music. It puts me in a mindset of places I've never been to, at times I've never lived through (but in a very good sense).And you could see, from the lyrics and the body language of the singer, that his heart is good and kind.I'll take this opportunity to share another music video that I like a lot, and I think deserves more audience:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7h9LuSxhvoI hope you like it too.@StevenDouglas
(DIR) Post #A5XX4ghT2tI9eAeWK8 by Lonestar@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T16:00:59Z
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@StevenDouglas @Cdubois Too funny...While stationed in Germany, we sent our daughter to visit her grandparents in Texas over the summer vacation.When she returned about 3 months later, she spoke with a distinctive Texas drawl. Almost like she'd lived here all her life. After assimilating back to the local culture in Germany, she lost it about as fast as she adopted it.
(DIR) Post #A5XYJCCIptAHLIYcNc by Kat@social.quodverum.com
2021-03-24T16:14:49Z
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@StevenDouglas @Lonestar @Cdubois My grandson watches Bluey. He has started calling everyone ‘mate’. No Aussie accent yet though.
(DIR) Post #A5sdEBCQXWoiLdgWzw by EricStoner@social.quodverum.com
2021-04-03T20:18:46Z
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@Cdubois @StevenDouglas Outstanding!
(DIR) Post #A5smFybzD8YPTTZVsO by Cdubois@social.quodverum.com
2021-04-03T21:59:57Z
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@LakePacificLover Thank you! He's very talented. Chris is cowriter on many of Brad's hits, and producer on many as well. Good music by good people. 🌼🎵@StevenDouglas
(DIR) Post #A5smM2HQU7WKaaqP20 by Cdubois@social.quodverum.com
2021-04-03T22:01:01Z
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@LakePacificLover Thank you! Brad's very talented. Chris is cowriter on many of Brad's hits, and producer on many as well. Good music by good people. 🌼🎵@StevenDouglas
(DIR) Post #A5t6Tlvx8sInI9laoy by Cdubois@social.quodverum.com
2021-04-04T01:46:32Z
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@MaggieMoore Thank you Maggie. He got his mama's heart, I'm happy to say. ❤ @StevenDouglas
(DIR) Post #A63QfRVWqxNI51qfy4 by MaggieMoore@social.quodverum.com
2021-04-09T01:19:57Z
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@Cdubois Sin duda, dear CeCe ❤️@StevenDouglas