Gin Rummy From Left - Harry Shooster, Herman Shooster
Harry Shooster playing cards
THE SANDBOX One thing irked me to no end. We built a sandbox in the front yard. Sand was delivered almost every week. It used to drive me nuts. As fast as sand went into that box, Frank and Mike would manage to make it disappear. To give you an idea of the impact this had on our budget, our mortgage was about $68 a month. The electric bill was about $6 a month, and sand for the kid’s sandbox was $5 a week!
Times were tough, but all during those years, we managed to keep a housekeeper. Usually, she would sleep in. Her name was Mae. She was a treasure. We may not have had money for a bigger home, but I felt strongly that Dorothy needed help with two young boys to manage. During these years I developed a habit of gambling. My game of choice was Gin Rummy; it never got too far out of hand, but it was compulsive. Harry and a few of our good friends, were the players. If a friend stopped by, we’d play. It became a ritual. Sometimes, I could win fifty dollars [$500 based on 2021], or lose the same. It was almost a disease. Even- tually, we all phased out of it, and I have not played for money since.
Frank and Mike playing with sand in the front yard
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