Related by Marriage: Together

Suburban Chicago, November 1967. Mr. Irene, Uncle D, and a group of cousins and friends gather in the living room. It looks like someone has a crush on Mr. Irene.

Related by Marriage: Suspender Boy

Suburban Chicago, January 2, 1962. Mr. Irene enjoys a visit with Cousin I and Cousin I's Mom.

Related by Marriage: A Birthday Visit

Suburban Chicago, January 2, 1962. Mr. Irene hosts a small birthday gathering; Cousin I is a favorite guest.

Related by Marriage: A Gentle Boy

Suburban Chicago, January 1965. Mr. Irene shares his space with Cousin I.

Related by Marriage: After Dinner

Suburban Chicago, 1965. Mr. Irene's Dad enjoys a cup of coffee.

UPDATE: Mr. Irene's Dad sits in the kitchen of Mr. Irene's boyhood home. Just behind Dad's right shoulder is a door leading to a small utility area and laundry room. The door was a handmade piece created by Dad's cousin, Anthony. Anthony was a skilled artisan and carpenter, and he crafted many furniture pieces for his own home in the Danish modern style. He made the door as a housewarming gift for Mr. Irene's parents in late 1958. Mr. Irene reports that, even as a child, he understood the door was a work of art.

Related by Marriage: Squeeze In

Suburban Chicago, 1967. Mr. Irene's childhood home was small, and it had no dining room. When Mr. Irene's family entertained, they sometimes set up a table in the living room. Here, Mr. Irene sits between Cousin I and Danutė, the wife of Uncle D. Cousin I's Dad, Anthony, stands next to Mr. Irene's Mom.

Related by Marriage: Board Game

Suburban Chicago, December 1970. Mr. Irene plays Monopoly with his cousins.

Related by Marriage: Bacon Buns

Suburban Chicago, 1961. “Cousin I” celebrates her birthday at Mr. Irene’s home. Mr. Irene’s maternal Grandmother, Anna, sits on the right. Anna’s sister, Petra, is on the left. Do you see what’s on the table—besides birthday cakes? Why, there are bacon buns and an assortment of dešeros (“kielbasas”).
 
Here’s a recipe for bacon buns.

(That 1950s-style formica kitchen table is in our house.)

Related by Marriage: Share your space.

Suburban Chicago, April 1966. Mr. Irene and an older cousin visit "Cousin I" in her room. Every first-generation Lithuanian girl had a doll outfitted in folkdress.

Related by Marriage: Party Treats

Suburban Chicago, March 1967. Mr. Irene and his "Cousin I" enjoy "Krustai"—with their colas.

Related by Marriage: A Visit from a Cousin

Suburban Chicago, January 2, 1962. Here's Mr. Irene and  his "Cousin I." Cousin I is Anthony's daughter; Anthony was Mr. Irene's Godfather.

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Suburban Chicago, January 2, 1962. Cousin I's Mom sits between Cousin I and Mr. Irene. That's the head of Mr. Irene's maternal Grandmother, Anna, on the left.

Chicagoans: does that box of Heinmann's cookies from Dominick's trigger your salivary glands? The cookies likely were those thin chocolate chip ones that often seemed a bit overly crispy on the edges. We were a "Jewel family," so I didn't visit Dominick's often. My Parents probably thought it was too Italian. My neighbor took me to the River Forest Dominick's on North Avenue once or twice a year: on those occasions, I grabbed a few hot cookies as they emerged into the bakery on a conveyer belt. The store encouraged that conduct.