>>211533068 (OP)Let me tell you about another side of Jon that doesn't include knocking guys out cold for looking at him the wrong way. Jon and my family go way back. My dad and his dad were both brick layers in the old country so he and I are paisans. He still comes visit my dad in Brooklyn to play bocce (he's a hell of a player but always lets my dad win out of respect).
Anyway, we have a little garden in the back and Jon bought my dad a fig tree. My dad said, " Jonny, youa canna putta a figa tree inna Brookalyn, issa too colda, maronna mia". Jon just patiently looked at my dad and said, "zio, no need to worry bout that, I'ma take care of it".
Wouldn't you know, every Oct 30th, no matter what he's got going on, or where he is in the world, Jon comes to our house with a tarp, a bunch of mulch and rope. He covers the fig tree with the tarp and a layer of mulch so it survives the harsh NY winters. In the spring, same thing. He shows up at the end of April and carefully unwraps the tree, treating it as he would his own son.
Anyway, this was 15 years ago, and we enjoy the figs from Jon's tree to this day. In fact, I'm eating some now as I type this. Grazie, Jon!