When I was growing up, our refrigerator was never full.

By the time the shopping was done, we three kids had already pilfered the bags and stripped them of any instantly edible goodies, like cookies.

So, frighteningly little food made its way to the cupboard or even to the freezer.

Imagine how magnificent it was when I slept over at my friends house, after a Little League game.

Tony lived in a mansion.

If you think Im kidding, consider that his next door neighbor was the comedian Jack Benny, and next to his house was Lucille Balls (I Love Lucy).

So his fridge was, lets just say, different than mine.

Start with the fact that there were three of them, strategically located in a cavernous kitchen. One was a huge freezer, filled with a dazzling variety of ice cream flavors and Pepperidge Farm Cookies.

When Tony said, Lets get a snack! wed walk down the stairs and get a Coke and hed ask me what flavor of cookie I wanted. Then, hed throw me my own package, retrieve his, and wed be on our way to watch TV.

I never told my brother or sister what life was like at Tonys because theyd probably make me bring them along. One thing would lead to another, and none of the three refrigerators would ever be full again!

To this day, my image of wealth is informed by what I saw at my pals house. And the eight car garage was something, especially with that 1938 Rolls in one stall, the one with, I kid you not, gold bumpers. Hearing Jack Benny practicing violin while we swam in the pool, was also a rare luxury, and waving to Lucy as she was driven away in her limo, was sweet.

But those glorious visions were nothing compared to the splendor of a full fridge!