The Common Vein

September 2009 

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Choni Becker
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Wife  Heather

Children Wayne (30) married to Romi (nee Kaplan)

 Nicole (27)

 Romy (22)

It is wonderful that after 40 years after bursting forth from the adventures of 15 years of schooling and travelling for 40 more years through the varied terrain of life, living, searching, being, and further adventures that this microcosmic element known as KDHSL 69 can still reach out with and to those that touched us in whatever way during the early and impressionable years of our journey.

It is wonderful that no matter what terrain we have travelled there is an inherent ability to reach back to reminisce and display for all to share the milestones that have made up the collage of our lives.

I have been rather fortunate. I am 57 years old and have been married to Heather Lev (of UK origin) for 33 years. We have 4 children (3 of our own and 1 daughter in law) ? Wayne (30) who is married to Romi Kaplan (Allan and Sheryl Kaplan?s daughter) both self employed ? Wayne who spent a number of years at Investec where he acquired great experience in the private banking sector, is in a new venture offering private safety deposit boxes to among others the banking sector and their clients operating out of the old and secure USA consulate in Killarney, while Romi has become one of SA?s youngest and most influential interior designers. Our daughter Nicole (27) is single, beautiful and a dietician practicing at Baragwaneth. Nicole has the voice of an angel and has sung in the 9 DIVAS as produced by the UJW. Our daughter Romy (22) is single, beautiful, vivacious, spirited and studying drama at Wits. In addition to this I am also privileged in that both my parents are still alive, living in SA, and active.

I was also lucky enough to have grown up in Linksfield just a hop skip and a jump from the school in which I spent 15 enjoyable and good years. Yet most important from this period was the people with whom I grew up with, had friendships with and with some with whom the friendships grew beyond that of friendship. We grew up not just as friends but in each other?s homes. We went away on family holidays. Again I was lucky enough to have spent many years with Hilton Wasilewsky, Ilona Boolkin (who got me through a subject or 2 in matric), George Subotsky and post school Allan Yellin. But there were those that impacted most deeply and were destined to stand the test of time ? Geoffrey Hirsowitz, Steve Selesnick, Ashley Davidoff, and Robert Pozniak.

I have been most fortunate to have just spent some time with Ashley, Geoff and Steven in the last few weeks and wow ? what a time it was ? what a time it was.

Ashley has put a new dimension to this event while people like Eric and Stan have remained its stalwarts. Thanks to all of you as well those who have not been mentioned.

The contribution frankness and emotion that comes from Sam James, Heather, Steven, Geoffrey, Ashley, Terry and many others has raised the status of this event to one of giving and sharing.

I am a qualified non-practicing accountant. I have been the CEO of a small cap JSE listed company and I am currently the CEO of a company involved with the supply, maintenance and management of speed law enforcement equipment and back office systems to local municipalities.

Early on in my post school years I bought an all terrain vehicle and since then have never been without one. This enabled me, my family and friends to have travelled much of Africa south of the equator. I have found much of my solace, inner peace and communication with god from amongst others the splendour of an African sunset, the outline of an acacia tree, seeing the morning dew reflecting off the web of a golden orb spider, the smell of a potato bush and the sounds of an emerald ?spotted wood dove or yellow billed horn bills.

 I am grateful for the love and understanding of my wife and children.

I am grateful for the love and understanding of my friends and friendships that developed in those early years.

I am grateful that in all its complexities life has given me simplicity of focus to enable me to look at life and choose out of it that which is good and enabling for me to navigate its complexities.

Too be continued????????..