My Uncle Frank

Frank Lobosco was my uncle.

Frank was also my Godfather.

To me he was kind.

I remember an incident when I was in Elmhurst General Hospital suffering from Rheumatic Heart Disease. I was 13 years old. Uncle Frank visited me in the hospital and brought me the most unique, interesting, and challenging gift I had ever received. It was a mercury puzzle maze.

It was incredible! One had to get a solid piece of mercury through a maze, to the center, If the mercury hits any side of the maze, it breaks into a dozen small pieces. One had to maneuver the puzzle in such a way as to put all the pieces of mercury together again, like Humpty Dumpty! This was almost impossible. To accomplish this feat, one needed to be patient, concentrate, and have nerves of steel to dare master this game.

As a young boy it was fun, amusing, and difficult! I was up to the task. I had all the time in the world confined to a hospital bed on complete bed rest. This was the medical treatment for Rheumatic Heart Disease. I met the problem. I won. I remember how enjoyable it was, a kind of pleasure and pain, ha-ha. After three weeks I mastered the query and was able to get the mercury through the maze in one piece. I was on top of my game. Thank you, Uncle Frank, for allowing me such a pleasurable experience.

I wonder what happened to my Mercury Maze. Today, such a toy would be out of the question: Forbidden, dangerous, and unlawful.

What a memorable marvel mercury toy this was, to this young boy.