Irving and Sara courting in California
When Sara Abrams and her cousin Rosaline Kanter decided to take a two-week vacation to California, a mutual friend suggested she look up Irving Sharnik in Los Angeles. Irving showed her around, took her out for dinner, even brought her flowers. His parents and his sister Shirley had her over to the house on DeLongpre. By the time she left for Cincinnati, Irving was smitten. Sara never expected, or wanted, to see him again. He proposed by mail. Before she knew it, Sara was engaged. The night before the wedding, she begged her mother to call it off. Her mother pointed out that it wouldn't be fair to the guests who were coming from as far away as California. She convinced Sara to go through with the wedding, and go on the honeymoon to Yellowstone National Park. “You don't have to do anything,” her mother said. “Come home. Your brother, Harry, will have it annulled.”
In Yellowstone, Irving slept on the couch. The night before Sara was to leave, he got on his knees and begged her to stay with him. He would treat her like a queen, she would
In Yellowstone, Irving slept on the couch. The night before Sara was to leave, he got on his knees and begged her to stay with him. He would treat her like a queen, she would
Irving and Sara on their honeymoon
never have to work. He would get a job at Convair in San Diego. He would never gamble again. Sara closed her eyes and imagined her life as an old maid in Cincinnati, living with her parents, typing reports for the government, baby-sitting her brothers’ children. She opened her eyes and saw a short, bald, uneducated man who loved her enough to support her. That night, Irving did not sleep on the couch.
Sara loved San Diego. And Irving kept his promise. They might have lived happily ever after, but the job at Convair didn’t last. It seems they found out that Irving had a record. He had taken a rap for some gangster in Newport, and spent a year or two in the Pen. He considered it an honor. Convair didn't. Irving found another job at a dog track in Tijuana. He met Benny Siegel. Sara went home to Cincinnati. “I left the bum.” She was diagnosed with a fibroid tumor the size of a grapefruit. If she wanted a child she would have to act fast. She went back to Irving. I was born nine months later.
Las Vegas, in the forties, was for people who had nowhere else to go.
Sara loved San Diego. And Irving kept his promise. They might have lived happily ever after, but the job at Convair didn’t last. It seems they found out that Irving had a record. He had taken a rap for some gangster in Newport, and spent a year or two in the Pen. He considered it an honor. Convair didn't. Irving found another job at a dog track in Tijuana. He met Benny Siegel. Sara went home to Cincinnati. “I left the bum.” She was diagnosed with a fibroid tumor the size of a grapefruit. If she wanted a child she would have to act fast. She went back to Irving. I was born nine months later.
Las Vegas, in the forties, was for people who had nowhere else to go.
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