Jim Wren, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 22 of 25

14K Gold Mother’s Ring Lost in the Surf, Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)

Two hours from home after a week long vacation I get a phone call from Don H. asking if I could help find his wife Diane’s Mothers ring that she lost around 8pm the night before. The connection wasn’t very good so I told him I’d call him back around 2pm and would be there between 4 and 5pm. During our broken conversation I thought he gave me the name of a resort that it was in North Myrtle Beach, however when we talked at 2 he said the resort was in Myrtle Beach. I got all the details from Don and called Matt Fry (TRF Myrtle Beach) not sure whether he was still out of town or not. During Don’s and my conversation he told me that his wife lost her ring between 9 and 9:20pm not at 8 like he originally said so I needed to leave home within about 20 minutes to catch the tide. When I called Matt he didn’t answer so I assumed he was still out of town and left. I was within 15 minutes of arriving at the resort when Matt called back, saying he was in town but to go ahead and take it.

I arrived in the parking lot and Don showed up shortly afterwards to show me the exact area. Don also explained that they were down from Minnesota for the Myrtle Beach annual cheerleading competition with one of their daughters and they all needed to be at the convention center. I worked it out with Don that I’d surprise Diane and that when I found her ring, I’d text him with a picture and then deliver it the convention center.  When I walked out on the beach it was packed with tourist and needless to say I had an audience watching me search. About 4 gridlines and calf deep in the water I got a strong 46-47 on my AT Pro along with a few other junk tones. Luckily I got the ring in the first scoop, dumped it out on the sand and immediately saw the gold. I texted Don with a picture and he immediately replied with a 100% it’s hers!! I’m not sure what Don told Diane to get her out front away from her cheerleaders but she didn’t look happy when I introduced myself. I think he told her I bumped their car in the parking lot. But I told Diane that Don had told me that she had lost her Mothers ring and if she could describe it that it would help me know what I was looking for. As she finished with her description, I held up her ring and said « Does it look something like this? » Her expression was priceless, there were a few tears of joy and the hugs were strong and sincere. She had to make a quick exit to get back to the girls but she was one happy lady!!! It just doesn’t get any better than this.

Don and Diane, thank you for trusting in me to help find your lost treasure and thank you for the very generous reward. Have a safe trip home!!!

Jim

Diane Howard Diane's Mother's ring

14K White Gold Engagement Ring Lost in the Surf, Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)

I received an e-mail shortly before 10pm on Thursday, July 21st from Zanita W. requesting help finding an Engagement Ring that had slipped off her finger in the water about 4 hours earlier. Zanita was here with her family on vacation from Indiana and was leaving on Saturday. I noticed in the e-mail that she also included Matt Fry (TRF Myrtle Beach). I contacted Zanita and got a few more details that included the name and location of the resort they were staying at. This resort was in Matt’s area so I called him to make sure he saw the e-mail. When he answered his phone I told him the situation but unfortunately he was stuck in Atlanta on his 3rd delayed flight out west and wasn’t available. I’m still on vacation and 800 miles away so I tried contacting Jim Brouwer, a friend who was filling in for me while I was gone. He didn’t answer so I sent him both a text and an e-mail with all the details knowing that he was probably asleep and was going to wake up very early to catch the low tide somewhere. I’m asleep and hear my text alert go off at 1:45am from Jim saying he’s on it. At 3:39am I get another text alert from Jim saying « I found it ». I called Jim and asked him to send me a picture so I could forward it to Zanita saying it was found. That morning I called Zanita around 8:30am, waking her up, with the good news. She couldn’t have been happier. I gave her Jim’s number and they arranged to meet later that morning.

Zanita, Thank you for trusting in The Ring Finders to help find your lost treasure!!!

Again, thanks Jim for backing me up. Zanita couldn’t have been happier!!!!

Jim

Zanita's engagement ring Zanita Whitley

2 Rings Lost in the Wet Sand, Found and Returned Sunset Beach NC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)

I got a call from Brett A. a little before 3pm on Thursday, July 21st saying he lost 2 rings in the wet sand and asked if I could help. Unfortunately I was 800 miles away on vacation but I had pre-arranged with a good friend, Jim Brouwer to respond in my absence. I got Brett’s number and location and called Jim, who immediately responded and was on scene within an hour. Jim called me back in about an hour and a half saying that Brett put him right on the spot and within 3 gridlines Jim had the first ring and a couple of swipes later had the second ring. He said Brett made the comment that he was glad he was wearing sunglasses and then Brett immediately called his wife with the good news.

Great job Jim B. (pictured on the right). Thanks for filling in for me and putting a smile on someone’s face!!!

Jim

Brett and Jim Brett's Gold and Titanium rings

10K White Gold and Rose Engagement Ring Lost in the Sand – Found Myrtle Beach

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)

On July 6th I had a missed call from an out of area number while I was cleaning up from looking for a previous lost engagement ring that I’d been looking for. I called back and talked to Pat who stated she had been behind one of the Dune’s hotels in North Myrtle Beach on July 3rd with her fiancé and had lost her engagement ring. She went on to say that she wasn’t sure what her fiancé wanted to do as far as whether he’d want me to look for it or file an insurance claim. We talked about my cost for finding it, which I told her I work on a reward basis, etc. I could tell she definitely wanted “her” ring back and although a replacement would be great it wouldn’t be her ring. While talking to her I had another call from an out of area number which I’d call back shortly. Continuing to talk with Pat I told her that she can always replace the ring but not the memories that go along with it. I also assured her that given the right information I’m confident that I could find it since she told me she had not gotten into the water and the ring was in the dry sand. She gave me a few more details, one being that they sat very close to a life guard chair, and then we ended the call with her saying that she wanted to talk with her fiancé and she’d call me the next day with a decision.

I noticed the missed caller left me a message so I listened to that and then called back. The second caller stated his name was Branden and that he and his fiancé were in Myrtle Beach behind the Dunes Village resort on July 3rd when she lost her engagement ring. This sounded too familiar so I asked him his fiancé’s name which he said was Pat. I started laughing saying I was on the phone with Pat when he called. He wanted to know what Pat had said and I told him she was leaving it up to him on the decision. I went on telling him the same thing I told Pat about not being able to replace the memories of her ring and I felt she really wanted her ring back and not a replacement. It almost sounded like a sales pitch but that wasn’t my intent. We went on discussing my price and other details about the location of the ring. I finally asked him what he wanted to do and he replied he wanted me to find it. Two details he gave me was that 1-they had sat next to a life guard chair and 2-they were in the dry sand and directly in front of a group of rental chairs that were chained and locked together at the top of the beach. He also gave me the address of the resort which turned out to be in Myrtle Beach and was TRF member Matt Fry’s area. I told Branden that either Matt or I would call him back. We ended the call with me telling Branden to call Pat and let her know what was going on. It was around 9pm by now but I called Matt and gave him the details asking if he wanted to take it, he told me to go ahead since I had gotten the call. I texted both Branden and Pat saying I was on my way to look for it.

I got to the beach at 9:30pm and as I walked out on the boardwalk to the sand I noticed there was a life guard chair with a row of rental chairs directly behind it right in front of me. I remembered Pat had said when they crossed the boardwalk they went to their right and down the beach. I went ahead and checked out a 15X30 ft square where I was with no luck. Looking to the right down the beach, the next life guard chair was about a quarter of a mile south so off I went. As I was walking I’m also swinging the detector getting all kinds of junk targets. I also noticed another 5 chair rental spots along the way. I ended up doing an east/west grid from each chair rental to the high tide line. Finally on my 4th chair rental spot, third grid line and about half way up from the high tide line I got a banging 59/60 on my AT Pro. Two scoops and I had Pat’s beautiful engagement ring in my scoop. It was 11:30pm but I was sure that both Branden and Pat would be real excited when I texted them a picture of the ring even if I was waking them up. Branden was working and immediately texted me back not believing I found it. Pat called me as I was driving back home and she couldn’t believe it either. Originally they were planning on making the 4 hour drive back to Myrtle Beach to pick it up but those plans changed the next day so I got it in the mail.

I got a text on July 9th from Pat saying she had the ring back and on the 10th she sent me some fantastic pictures. As you can see Pat and Branden are one happy couple!!!

Pat and Branden, thank you for trusting in me to help find your lost treasure. Best of Luck to both of you on all your future endeavors. And Pat, don’t forget to save this memory to share with your grandchildren.

Jim

Pat n Branden 2 Pat5 Pat's Ring 2

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14K Woman’s Wedding Band and Engagement Ring Lost in the Ocean – Wedding Band Found North Myrtle Beach

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)

I got a text message about 9:30pm on July 4th stating they had lost their wedding band/engagement set in the ocean earlier that day and to please call when I had the chance. I immediately called back and talked with Lyndsey who said her and her husband Joshua have been married for just two weeks and they were on their honeymoon and it’s now officially a disaster. She gave me the hotel name and the address and I was on my way. With it being the 4th of July I knew the beach was going to be packed with both locals and tourist watching the firework displays and parking was going to be a big problem. Surprisingly I think I found the only remaining spot on the whole beach in one of the hotel parking lots and snatched it up hoping my car would still be there when I was done.

I met Lyndsey and Josh on the beach and we walked down to the water where she showed me about where she lost it while playing catch, as she put it, “with a stupid little yellow ball they bought”. Lyndsey said she was in water up to her thighs when she felt the ring fall off after catching the ball. She showed me a picture of her beautiful ring that was a two piece set where the engagement ring sits inside the wedding band. I was faced with a little bit of a dilemma because the tide was still high and my go to machine for water hunting is my White’s PI which is in the shop for repairs, and my back up machine is an AT Pro which can’t get wet much above the coil. The AT PRO is a great machine in the wet and dry sand but not so much in the water especially with heavy surf conditions. I was making the best of it but getting a lot of false target hits and not making any progress. After about 30 mins I got out of the water and moved back to the wet sand and started another grid search following the tide out. After 3 hours of searching I came up empty and called it a night at 1am. After staying up most of the night trying to figure out a better game plan for finding her ring at the next low tide I sent her an e-mail asking for a little help. Looking at the tide tables for the 4th and 5th, I asked her if she would go into the water at 10:55 that morning and walk out to waist deep water and then mark off the number of steps to a stationary item on the beach, which happened to be the beach access sign. She gladly compiled which ultimately got us in the right spot. Around 10am I got a call from Matt Fry (TRF Myrtle Beach) saying he’d received a text from a girl who had lost her ring in North Myrtle Beach and passing it off to me. After comparing the text messages we realized both came from Lyndsey who was trying to cover all her bases to get some help. Talking with Matt I told him about my PI and he offered up his Minelab CTX 3030 which I quickly accepted.

The temperature for the day was going to be above 100 degrees and looking at the area that needed to be searched I talked to Jim Brouwer to see if he would be willing to help thinking we could cover twice the area in half the time getting us out of the heat quicker, things don’t always work out as planned!!!  As always, he was raring to go, GOD bless him!!! We met on the beach at 1pm and I marked off the 105 steps (baby steps for me) that Lyndsey had done earlier. This put us 10 feet from the life guard chair that was sitting in the middle of our search area. Jim and I grid searched in all 4 directions for a good 3 hours with very few targets and no ring. Finally Jim moved closer to the life guard chair and bam. I heard him holler at me and as soon as I looked over at him I immediately recognized his expression. I walked over and he dropped the ring in my hand – oh oh, he only had the wedding band and not the engagement ring which had fallen out at some point. We figured the engagement ring had to be within inches of the wedding band so we expanded his 5 inch round, 3 inch deep hole into a 3-4 foot round by 2 foot deep hole. Nothing!! We did another 10X10 ft grid search around the hole that included moving the life guard stand with the life guard’s permission, then expanded it to 20X20 and still nothing. We rechecked all the low, water filled (runnels) holes close and still nothing. We know the engagement ring is there somewhere but after another hour we came up blank. We figured the engagement ring separated from the wedding band and settled in the sand while the wedding band rolled around and then settled. So now it’s just a matter of finding where the engagement ring settled. I’m hoping there’s a part 2 to this story real soon and plan on going out this afternoon with my AT Pro and see if I can come up with it.

After finding the wedding band I took a picture and sent it to Lyndsey and got a response of “oh my gosh!!!!” We met up later and although we hadn’t found the engagement ring she was still extremely happy saying the wedding band signifies the married and is what it’s all about.

Lyndsey and Josh, I’ll continue to search for that engagement ring and hopefully come up with it soon. Thank you both so much for trusting in me to help find your treasure and for the very generous reward.

Matt, thanks for the use of the 3030, it looks like a great machine in the right hands. For me though, it was like buying a new car – I know how to drive but it has too many bells and whistles which with time and practice I’m sure I could learn.

Jim, what can I say buddy – Thank you again for your help!!!!

Lyndsey and Josh  Lyndsey's wedding band

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Jim

Sentimental Ring Lost – Found and Returned North Myrtle Beach

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)

Was out doing a little night time detecting when I was approached by a lady asking if I could help find a silver ring. We introduced ourselves and she, Mary Beth, went on to say that she owns one of the condo’s in the building we were behind and had witnessed a young lady lose a very sentimental ring in the sand. The ring had been placed in a chair cup holder and forgotten until they started packing up to leave and someone grabbed the chair and folded it up. Mary Beth said the whole family was searching for it to no avail and finally left the beach except for the grandmother who continued to look hoping for the best. Mary Beth had told the family that she would keep her eyes open for someone metal detecting, got their information and started watching the beach. That’s where I come in, I was the lucky one metal detecting the beach that night. Luckily someone had stuck a stick in the sand and it took about 2 minutes to locate the ring. Mary Beth had their phone number and tried calling and ended up leaving a message. I turned the ring over to Mary Beth who said she’d ensure it got back to its rightful owner. I asked Mary Beth to ask the young lady for a picture when she got it back but so far no picture of a smiling face. Nonetheless another lost ring found and returned.

Jim

Cherry Grove Lost ring recovery

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5 Golden Rings Lost in the Surf – Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)

On Friday June 17th, I got an e-mail from Josh that said in part that he lost 5 rings in the ocean and wondered if there was any way I could help. We went back and forth via e-mail and I finally asked for his number. As I was calling him, I’m thinking – 5 rings, must have had them on a towel and flipped the towel or something along those lines. When he answered his phone the first question I asked was, “is this legit?” He assured me it was and said that he was wearing all 5 rings and was throwing a football back and forth with a friend in the surf – not a good thing. He went on to say the finger he was wearing his class ring on was swollen so he moved that ring to his pinky. A few catches later and the football knocks the ring into the surf. At that point Josh said he took the other 4 rings off and put them on a chain he had around his neck. Guess where the football hit next, yep broke the chain and all 4 rings hit the water and disappeared. He also said he was back home in Virginia and this happened the previous Saturday. He gave me the hotel and a real good idea of the location and said he lost them in knee deep water about 1pm. Looking at the tide tables for that day I saw that high tide was within an hour of him losing the rings – no problem, the rings should be pretty close to the high tide line. On my way to the beach, he sends me a text saying he remembered that they all got up early that morning for breakfast and were on the beach and he lost them about 10am. Ok now I’m farther down the beach and in the surf which always makes a find a little tougher depending on the waves and wind.

When I got there I scoped out the area and realized with me having a bad ankle, the size of the area and an incoming tide that I could definitely use some help. I called my friend, Jim to see what he was doing. At the time he was busy and said he wouldn’t be able to make it, 5 minutes later he called me back saying he needed a break and would be right there. I had already started a north/south grid working the surf line when he showed up. I drew a line in the sand at about the mid search area and he worked north and I worked south of the line. At some point I decided I’d start doing an east/west grid line and go from about waist deep in the water to close to the high tide line. My fourth line I got a great signal and dug out two rings (one stuck inside the other). Bingo I had found the right spot. I got Jim’s attention and he came up to help find the other 3 rings. Again I started with a north/south grid starting at my mid-point line I had made. Jim made a couple of passes around the spot and found 2 more rings and then about 10 minutes later found the 5th ring, which was the class ring, nine feet away from the spot of the other 4 rings. I sent Josh a picture of me wearing all 5 rings and he responded with OMG!

Got them all wrapped up and sent them home Friday and got a text from Josh today that he finally got them back.

Josh had to take 2 different pictures to show him with all 5 but the smile on his face says it all.

A big thanks to Jim Brouwer for his help once again.

Jim

Josh2 Josh1 5 Rings - 1 5 Rings 10K Gold 4.9 grams 10K Gold 6.7 grams 10K Gold 12 Diamonds 8.6 grams 10K Gold 16 Diamonds 14 grams 10K Gold Patrick Henry High class ring 15.5 grams

 

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Clemson Class Ring Lost in the Surf – Found and Returned Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)

I got a call from Kaley after she found me in the ring finders directory saying she had lost her Clemson class ring the night before when she took a 3am late night stroll on the beach. She informed me she had lost the ring in Myrtle Beach which is TRF member Matt Fry’s area so I told her that I would call Matt and one of us would be calling her back within the next 10 minutes. I contacted Matt and filled him in on what was lost and the location. He told me he was too busy at work and had his own lost ring call to work in the evening and for me to go ahead and take Kaley’s lost ring. I called Kaley back and told her I’d be there in 30 minutes.

When I arrived I met Kaley on the beach behind her hotel and noticed the area was packed with families here on vacation. She gave me the description of the ring and a friend of hers had the same ring so I was able to run a test with my machine and get a visual idea of what I was looking for. She also told me she had rented a metal detector and didn’t have any luck in finding her ring or anything else. Unfortunately I was battling a rough incoming tide that was close to being at high tide and trying to work around families that were where I needed to search, not a good combination. So I told Kaley I’d be back in about an hour and work the outgoing tide and figured most of the families would be gone to dinner. When I got back the tide was outgoing but I think the families had increased. I was able to work around those in the surf but I’m thinking that if she lost her ring within 30 minutes of the high tide last night the ring should be pretty close to the high tide line and this would be a quick search – not the case!!! As I’m working my way down the tide line, I’m thinking there’s no way the ring could be this far down the slope of the beach. Finally at 8:30pm and a good 3 hours of searching the 75 yards of beach Kaley was sure she lost it in I got a good solid signal almost at the low tide line, dug a scoop full of sand and saw the gold in the bottom of the scoop. I either had somebody else’s ring or Kaley’s – bingo, it was Kaley’s. She was scheduled to leave some time today so I took a picture and texted her « look familiar? » She immediately texted me back with « OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS!!! » Luckily she was still in town and finishing up a game of putt putt golf, she showed up about 40 minutes later and came running out on the beach. She informed me that when she lost it at 3am she called her mom and dad crying, having 2 daughters of my own I could relate to this real easy. Got a few big hugs and many thank yous!

Kaley’s is a student pilot and is on her way to a new job in Wichita, KS and now gets to take her college ring with her. Kaley, you are a very sweet young lady, best of luck to you in all your future endeavors and thank you very much for the more than generous reward.

Jim

Kaley1 Kaley's Class Ring1

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Platinum Engagement Ring Lost in the Sand – Found and Returned N. Myrtle Beach, SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)

I received a text message at 9:30 this morning from a Nashville, TN phone number about a lost ring in the sand with additional information that they were leaving to go back home tomorrow. I immediately called back and talked to Ed who told me that his wife, Diane had lost her engagement ring in the sand yesterday and was wondering if I could help. After getting the name of their resort I was on my way and arrived 20 minutes later. I met Ed on the beach and he told me Diane had put her 3 rings in one of her beach bags and that their kids got in the bag to get their towels and other items and her rings ended up in the sand. Ed and their 13 year old son, Greg looked through the sand and found 2 of the rings, one being her wedding band. The one that was still lost was her beautiful Platinum with Diamonds engagement ring.

I started out with a north/south grid search with my White’s Dual Field PI and searched for an hour and a half where they thought the ring might be and also around the area Ed and his son found the other 2 rings and I wasn’t having any luck. I tested the Platinum wedding band 3 different times, the first time in the sand was a good signal, a little while later a second test in the sand was a sporadic signal and the third test was with the wedding band on Ed’s finger and I got nothing! It concerned me enough that I went back home and got my AT Pro and went back and searched the same area – still no engagement ring. By now it’d been a 3 hour search and I was baking in the heat and was exhausted so I called my friend and mentor Jim Brouwer, author of Gold Beneath the Waves, and asked if he was available to help. Jim has never hesitated to come running if he could so he said he’d be there in 30 minutes. Meanwhile, I went back to Ed and Diane asking questions hoping to get a new clue about where the ring might be. After a short period Greg spoke up and said a couple of things about where he thought they may have been. I asked Greg to come with me and tell and show me what he remembered and guess what, he had me a little farther north and closer to the high tide line. Long story short and after moving a couple of beach chairs and umbrellas I had a great solid 46 on the AT Pro exactly what the wedding band had come up as. I called Jim to tell him he didn’t need to come but too late, he had just pulled in the parking lot – Thank You Jim for answering the call!!! Next I texted Ed, who with Diane had taken their kids to get lunch, and said « BINGO » with a picture of Diane’s engagement ring. Meanwhile Jim had met me on the beach and as we were discussing the ring find I saw Ed running out on the beach. He had gotten my text but hadn’t gotten the picture until he was about half way out on the beach. He had told Diane that I was trying to text him and left her and the kids sitting at the table. He couldn’t believe the ring was found. We walked back up to where Diane was and I told him I was going to play with Diane a little bit. We got to the table and I looked at Diane and said how hot and tired I was and she was being sympathetic and then I hit her with “but I found it”. To say she was overjoyed would be an understatement!!! I got a huge hug.  You can tell by their picture they couldn’t have been happier. Their trip back home tomorrow will be a much happier trip I’m sure.

A big thanks to their son Greg who was a tremendous help and saved me a few extra hours of searching.

Ed and Diane, thank you for trusting me to find your precious lost treasure and for the very generous reward. Have a safe trip home.

Jim

Ed and Diane D. - 1 Diane's Platinum Engagement Ring - 1

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House and Car Key FOB Lost in the Surf – Found and Returned North Myrtle Beach SC

  • from North Myrtle Beach (South Carolina, United States)

I got a phone call and referral from my son-in-law on some lost keys. He gave me the location and details and I met Kimberly about 10 minutes later on the beach. Kimberly told me that her brother and cousin had been fishing about 11pm the night before and when her brother got back to the resort he didn’t have his house or BMW key FOB. Figuring out the tides for the previous evening I realized I had a very short window of opportunity to try and find the keys before high tide. There was a big drain pipe on the beach and that was the reference point both as the center point for north and south (both about 40 yards wide) and the starting point seaward. By the time I started my grid line the end of the pipe was already underwater and the waves were building. After about an hour of searching I called Kimberly and left a message that I’d be back in about 3 hours to work the outgoing tide.

Around 5 o’clock I arrived back on the beach and started working the outgoing tide, still a little rough but manageable. After another hour and a half of grid searching and finding some change, bottle caps, pull tabs and some wire I got a good strong shallow signal. Bingo, I had the keys in my scoop. I took a picture and sent it to Kimberly asking her “do these look familiar”. I then called her and asked if she got my text, she looked at her text messages and I could hear her in the background tell her family “he found the keys!!! She came back on the phone, thanked me and said her brother was still in town and she was going to call him and give him my number. Within a minute Kevin was on the line saying I can’t believe you found them, I thought I’d never see them again. We met in the Walmart parking lot 10 minutes later and Kevin had his keys back. Kimberly had told me that Kevin was in the US Army and stationed at Fort Bragg, so when we met I gave him a hand salute and shook his hand. He had had a spare key FOB but his dog had pretty much chewed it up but it could still be used. When I handed him his keys back he hit the lock/unlock buttons on the FOB and surprisingly after being buried in the sand submerged below the surf for roughly 18 hours the key FOB still worked!!!!

Kevin, from one VET to another – best of luck to you in your career and stay safe!!!

Jim

 Kevin Kevin's Keys

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