Author: Tony Rapoport

Happy 60th to a woman who teaches me so much.

Brave, willing, smart, resourceful.

I feel blessed to travel together with you, my friend!

Happy, happy day, Simone.

Belinda

S is for sweet which she is, that I know.

I is for intellect which can’t help but show.

M’s for mellifluous, that deep sultry tone.

O is for openness for which she is known.

N is for noble of spirit, that’s her

E is the elegance to which I refer.

Simone is a woman that’s a pleasure to know.

May her 60^th bring joy and her heart overflow.

 

With much affection,

Cheryl

Warmest wishes for a great celebration! As i am sure you have noticed, life improves after 50. But it also improves after 60!. I am looking forward to my new half time job at Osgoode, beginning Jan 2018. hope to see you in the Fall.
Jenny

Dear Sisi, Dear Simone,

It’s hard to believe that we have known each other for nearly 55 years! I have so many great memories of our childhood times together. I think of our eight –and-nine- year-old selves searching for Narnia in your attic and on the University subway line when we traveled to and from those Saturday morning French lessons (I was sure St. Patrick station was a portal). I remember the thrill of staying at your place on Crescent Road once for eight whole days, raiding your family’s amazingly well stocked cookie cupboard, camping out on your back deck. I think of the time we hung upside down to be like bats, and the bird book we were writing. And I remember wandering around the schoolyard with our arms around each other and our faces turned to the sky trying to figure out where the universe ended. Your friendship means everything to me and I like to think we are, as you once wrote in a letter,  ”sisters of the soul.” I am so happy that we have kept in touch through the years even when we lived in different cities, and that now we can still meet to walk and talk and ponder the universe together. I have always loved your sensitivity, intelligence and deep insight. I wish you many, many  years of happiness and new discoveries and hope that we will always be friends.

Love,
Agatha

Simone was one of my very best friends when we were very young.  Our backyards faced each other and I can remember when we both had chicken pox at the same time and we would hang out our respective bedroom windows and yell at each other.  Of course this did not please our mothers who thought we should be at school if we felt well enough to hang out the window shouting and giggling at each other.

We  used to trade lunch days in Grade two.  Simone’s house seemed exotic because she had different food like cottage cheese and chocolate wafers.  Mine was very ordinary (at least to me) with the usual peanut butter sandwiches and Chiquita bananas for lunch.  Simone had a great attic with tons of comic books and an exciting brother who played the piano to Loving Spoonful.

Simone is still exotic and beautiful and interesting to me.  We don’t see each other often but I enjoy it when we do and wish her a lovely 60th birthday party and a great year.

Love from,

Kate

Some photos ca. 1973 of Simone and me in a Berkeley High production of Marat Sade, and taken at the home of the BHS costume designer and her husband, the unofficial acting coach.

Dear Simone,

Happy Birthday! I am so sorry to miss this very special celebration. (I am on a Baltic cruise with my Dad, celebrating his 80th birthday.)

Thank you for your friendship, collegiality and always generous spirit. You inspire me with your courage, grace and kindness. This world is so much richer because of your compassionate presence.

My heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to you for a truly wonderful birthday celebration. May your year ahead be absolutely beautiful!

Fondly,
Joy
(Fitzgibbon)