It was to be the last visit to Ligonier before the closing a few days later,
so we gathered the family and Jane
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got in the car at 7 minutes before wheels up time
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as did Suzanne
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so we could drive on past the expensive (and unfriendly) gas station
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as the people in the back
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and front
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seats remained a little out of focus as we came to this rest stop
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and paid these prices
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to pump the gas
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which built up my appetite for diet vanilla coke
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and Suzanne's for what was in this Cinnabon bag
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the contents of which escape me.
We drove on until we got to Ligonier and parked behind this jeep
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and in front of this one
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so that we could sample the specials
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at the Ligonier Tavern.
We were happy to wait
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until Ben and Jane
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were seated and this self portrait
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caused the waiter
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to offer to take a picture of Suzanne
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but we weren't sure he could do better than I did. So, we ordered drinks
for the men
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and for the women
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and my salad
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and Suzanne's fish
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Jane's salad
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and Ben's burger
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convinced our waitress
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that after the pasta
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we needed cheese cake
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and coffee
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before heading to the cabin.
Once there, I took this profile
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as Suzanne
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chatted on the phone and we admired the pin collection
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and the fire place (with baskets)
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the wreath
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the owl
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and the plates
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and doll seats
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before calling it a day.
The next morning, Jane
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was wondering about the Romaine label
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as we checked out the birds
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and flowers
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and walked past the bird bath
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and hearth
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until Ben climbed the stairs to the front door
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and prepared to dive
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before we made our way to the feeding trough
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and fallen basketball hoop
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past the cages
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and down the hill to the boxcar
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where Ben tried to enter
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and become one of the boxcar children even though he'd seen the
posted signs
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on the property. Back at the cabin, Jane spoke to the owl
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and the owl
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spoke back before Bobby Sauro and Maxine
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arrived and Suzanne wrapped the owl
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and we put it into the back of the car
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for the journey home. Bob
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and Jane
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and Ben
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were having conversations
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in various directions before Suzanne and Milt
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and Norma, Jane and Ben
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sat down and Ben
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ducked out of my picture
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while I captured Bob and Maxine
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and this picture
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that Bob
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was also taking so that he
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could head out to the sisters
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for a conversation
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as Norma and Jane sat
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and Ben
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hid
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but was caught
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while Norma and Suzanne
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discussed baskets, I took this self portrait
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and Ben
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pretended to be oblivious to Jane and Milt
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even as Norma joined them
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and he tried to hide
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but eventually joined the picture
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even as the cake was unveiled
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by the caterer
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in a happy moment
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as the conversation continued
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and Ben played Game Boy
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in the corner.
The sisters
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walked around as Suzanne
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explored closets and the catering
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worked with the first guests
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to get the food out
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as Jane
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was amused by the cake
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and the sisters
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wanted more food
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from the caterer
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and even more came
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to the amusement of Suzanne and Milt
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as the bloody mary's
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passed Norma's taste test
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and we all
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waited for the next person to come as nuts
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were put out by the helpers
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and Ben paid a lot of attention to the birds
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that were to come home with us.
Bob
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the sisters
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Ben and Suzanne
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and Jane
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waited as Maxine chatted with Norma
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and Ann Sharon
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Bob
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and Jane
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watched so that we knew it was time for group photos
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then reorganized
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and then with replacements
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and again
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as Sally
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Katie and Sam
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and Andy and Debbie
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arrived and Andy
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posed for a closeup as the Davis'
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came. Sally had something to tell Norma
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and Bob spoke to Suzanne
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as Phyllis spoke to Milt
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and Ann Sharon and Debbie
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shared Bloody Mary's as Bob amused Jane
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and Katy joined
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even as she and her brother
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were in the darkness that also captured Jane
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as Ben hid
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and was caught
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even as he made his way to the children's table
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so that he
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and Jane
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could eat as Herb and his brother
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arrived.
As Sally and Suzanne conversed
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Ruby arrived
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and spoke with Jane
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as conversations continued
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and Phyllis Davis
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posed while others ate
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as Herb
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and his brother and Norma
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made through the line and Bon Davis and Milt
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chatted with Herb
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and Norma Shapiro and Betty Lou
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as the men posed
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Sam got up close
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and Herb spoke to mother
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and daughter
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as Sally and the Gespass (Pittsburgh) women
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spoke and Jane
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wondered what Suzanne and the caterers
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would do with this food
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as the crowds outside
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looked into the darkness
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and Jane
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spoke with Haim and Norma
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as Debbie
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and Suzanne
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watched and Maxine
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photographed.
After some crowd shots
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and watching Bob
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take this picture
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as I took this one
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it was time to bring out the cake
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and sing happy birthday as the crowd
watched
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from both directions
and the lights went out
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so that the speeches could be made as the assembled
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watched Norma and Milt
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and Suzanne and Bob
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watched me try twice
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to get Ben and Jane into the same frame even as I shot over
everyone's head
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and then got a few crowd shots
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as the other photographer
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was capturing the cake
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and Jane captured Ben
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as her feet
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and shadow
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make for a self portrait by face
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feet
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and hands
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while the discussion continued
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and Ben
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couldn't hide on the porch
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as people assembled
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and Haim looked like he was talking to the tree
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as the caterer and Bob
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and Ruby
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and Haim
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prepared for the family portraits
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while Bob took the one
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which also included me.
After Bob
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loaded his car
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we called it a day.
Next morning, we packed the car
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said one last good bye
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as Jane
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got in the car and we drove to the bagel factory
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in Squirrel Hill before hitting the highway where everyone's legs
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and feet
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helped propel us to the rest area
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where the turnpike map
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told us where we were and Suzanne
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and Ben
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suggested where they wanted to be, as I ate my pizza
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and Jane her Boardwalk fries
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as Suzanne explored the gift shop
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Ben checked out the video games
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and all of us hoped to never eat another meal in Sbarro's.
Goodbye Ligonier.