On July 12th, 1935 the New York Times headlines included: “Court restrains wife who hoarded $18,450 by usurping husbands pay for 25 years; five die in 90 degree heat; Policemen shoot two thugs on Park Ave.” There was also the little detail that Ron Kapon was born to R. William and Irene Kapon. Three months later he began talking and hasn’t stopped since. “It is not how old you are, but how you are old.”
I began planning my party and trip almost one year ago (see my June 29th story) and here it is a few days before the big 70 and I am thinking about my late parents and how much I miss them. My dad taught me to always offer help to someone without asking what they can do for you. My mother spent the last 25 years of her life in a wheelchair with MS but she never let that stop her from going to the theatre, to dinner or on trips. I will be thinking of both of them on July 12th.
About 150 people will be helping me celebrate at the Boat Basin Café overlooking the Hudson River at 79th Street. When I return from my South American trip I will post some of the professional pictures taken of the party and also my sojourn. I will have relatives, especially my dear brother Michael and his wife Leslie and their three sons, John, Jesse and James (one wife, one lady friend and three grandchildren). That is my one failure in life; I never did have children of my own. But many of my “non-blood” children will be in attendance, coming from Argentina, Poland, Croatia, California, etc. There will be guests from the academic world, sports associates, oenophiles and other assorted relatives and friends.
“Silences make the real conversation between friends. Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts.”