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The Lipskys Meet the Salters 87
MY UNCLE ABE
My grandma had a tall Victrola, combination record player/radio, in the living room, and my Uncle Abe often opened the doors where the sound came out and informed me that a tiny group of musicians was inside performing. I believed everything he said. He was a great tease, but I loved him anyway.
I loved Uncle Abe so much I was determined to marry him when I grew up. This lasted until I got almost as tall as he was and began to notice the boys at school and in the neighborhood. Every summer my mother, father and I moved to “the beach” and always stayed in one of my grandma’s apartments. I loved living near her and Uncle Abe.
SHOPPING, DINING AND THE MOVIES
When my mother was feeling well we had “water fights” and chased each other all over the house, or we drove to Chapman’s Ice Cream parlor to eat my father’s favorite, pistachio. My mother loved movies and shopping, and almost every day she took me downtown to shop and to see a movie. There was always a vaudeville show too, which I adored. I remember dancing up and down the aisles when the music played, trying to imitate the performers.
My parents often took me out to lunch and to dinner. Dining at Clifton’s Cafeteria was one of the highlights of my young life. It was a huge place, with waterfalls and other wild decorations. There was an enormous organ and someone was always playing music. Clifton’s was very unusual because its manner of receiving payment for meals was the “honor system.” People paid whatever they could afford!
When things were good, both my parents took me everywhere, and when I fell asleep in the movie theatre, even at age eight, my dad carried me to the car. I was big for my age, but it didn’t matter, as he was over six feet tall and very strong.