on the record player and only left when my mother yelled, ‘Herman, you need to wake up in the morning.’ On the ride home, Pearl told Dorothy with her characteristic bravado, “You’re lucky you met him first because if I did, you wouldn’t have had a chance.” That is when Dorothy decided to be me more serious. Pearl wasn’t one to dwell on heartbreak. She went down to the beach and met another fellow who became her husband. It only took a few months for Albert Nipon to propose. The four of us had a celebration dinner in honor of their engagement. Taking advantage of the moment, Al suggested, “Why don’t we make it a double wedding?” I had just gulped some coffee. Not expecting the challenge I ended up spraying my drink all over the table while saying, “Stop that kind of talk or some- body’s gonna get hurt.” Truth be told, marriage was the furthest thing from my mind, but we kept on seeing each other. I was nearly twenty-eight years old, and my brother, Harry, kept coaxing me to settle down, saying, “Herman, I don’t want to be partners with a wild, single guy.” Pearl and Al got married. Dorothy and I had a trial separation. It lasted three days, I picked her up at the dress shop she owned with Pearl and asked her to marry me. She agreed, then asked, “How many kids do you want?” Today we have four. I should have taken Al’s earlier advice
Herman with his Red Lincoln Continental Car
NEXT STEPS
Herman Shooster - Single and dating, my best friend, Marty Schulman, and I shared a bach- elor pad. He was going out with Pearl Schulger and set me up with her sister, Dorothy. That is how I met the love of my life, the best thing that ever happened to me. I picked her up with my brand new, fire-engine red, 1952 Lincoln Continental, and as a gag, I left a sign on the dashboard that read, Popsicles 15¢. She wasn’t impressed. We went out drinking with my friends. I guess they were too much for her. When she got home that night, her mother said, ‘So how did it go, is this Mr. Right?’ She stamped her feet in protest saying, “He’s not my type.” Our second date was a little better. That is when I learned about her old boyfriend. She was in love with him for years, but he never proposed. That’s why she was dating. On our third date, Dorothy brought her sister, Pearl. They came to my house. Pearl was heartbroken. She just broke up with Marty. I made her feel a little better, with simple kind- ness and plain-spoken advice. They stayed until late that night listening to classical music
Herman and Dot looking at a Telegram congratulating them on their wedding
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