Question: Why did Howard and Charlotte throw the drinking glasses into the fireplace on their anniversaries?
Question: One of the detectives says that attackers don't usually wear masks and gloves. Is that realistic? I would have thought many would disguise themselves.
Answer: As I understand, not wearing a disguise is common because criminals want to appear "normal" before they attack. They need to catch their victims off guard. This happened to me. Two guys approached me in my apartment complex's parking lot, pretending to need help with something; then they presented a [weapon] and demanded my phone and car keys. They did not wear masks or gloves. (By the way, this happened in an average middle-class area that was not known for crime. Not a stereotypical "bad area." If someone ever makes you feel uncomfortable, get away from them fast. I felt uncomfortable, but I decided to give these people a chance instead of "judging" them. I was shot twice.)
Answer: It's an old custom. Throwing a glass into a fireplace and smashing it after drinking a toast is supposed to indicate that nothing can ever exceed that toast's importance. It ensures that the glass will never be used for another toast or even for an ordinary drink that would lessen what the previous toast represented.
raywest ★