The saga of the Looney Tune glasses

In ancient times, Jewish brides may have brought into marriage a nedunyah, or dowry, “those assets of the wife which she of her own free will entrusts to her husband's responsibility.” This could take the form of money, slaves or cattle. As Larry and I look forward to our fiftieth anniversary this fall, I reflect back on the “dowry” I brought into our marriage — a collection of Warner Brothers Looney Tunes glasses.

Larry and I announced our engagement to our families on Oct. 6, 1973. Fresh out of graduate school, Larry was working at his parents’ store, Shapiro’s of Schuylerville, making an as...