We were both born in Chicago, Illinois. Burton was born July 30, 1932. Elaine was born November 2, 1933. We spent each summer in a rented cabin on the beach in South Haven, Michigan. Our dad would drive up every weekend to be with us. We walked in sun, rain and snow to Von Humboldt Elementary School (1st to 8th grades) and used public transportation to attend Roosevelt High School (9th to 12th). We got our first washing machine in 1946. We would wheel it into the kitchen and connect the hoses to the sink. After running the clothes through the ringer we would hang them to dry on a clothes line outside. Our coin operated telephone (a two-party line) required us to insert a nickel to make a call. Each month a person from the telephone company would stop by and collect the coins. Our telephone number was Humboldt 0835. There were no area codes or zip codes at that time. In 1947 we were first in the neighborhood with a TV. The picture was in black and white had a 10 inch screen. Each Friday we would go to our grandparent’s house for the Sabbath dinner with the Bernard aunts, uncles and cousins. We would have chicken soup, chicken, challah, gefilte fish, Mogen David concord wine and plain seltzer water. Grandma would always say a prayer and light the Sabbath candles.
