General Manners: Feign Delight

Suburban Chicago, July 1962. There's a box from Madigan's, so it looks like someone brought a gift of clothing to my birthday party.

Happy Call

Suburban Chicago, January 1977. Mom does not seem to be engaged here in a work-related call. The throw pillow features Lithuanian motifs; the mother of my friend Ron made it for Mom (Ron's Mom also made the best Cepelinai I've tasted). The watercolor is by Murinas.

Here's the pillow today:

If you don't like it, then consider a Russian proverb: "In taste and colors, there are no friends." That's what I tell a friend each time I start (another) beige sweater.

Birthday Reunion

Taliesen Estate, Spring Green, Wisconsin, September 2, 2014. Today is Frank Lloyd Wright's birthday; here, again, is the Romeo and Juliet Windmill.

(Taliesen is one of our favorite places. We try to get there at least once each year.)

A Friendly Baby

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1925. This is Birute, the mother of my friend Ron.

Thanks to my friend Ron for making this photo available to us.

Another family awaits the future.

Probably Munich, Germany, about 1947. These are friends of Ron's family. Here's the Mom in happier times.

Thanks to my friend Ron for making this photo available to us.

Independence Day

Bulger Park, Veterans Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, February 1965. The older girls sing during an Independence-Day minejimas. (The younger children waited in the audience until it was our turn to take the stage.)

That's my friend Ron at the piano. My friend Kris stands second from left. The braided trim on Kris's folkdress and mine were identical because our Mom's worked together to sew the blouses and aprons.

The Adults' Table

Near Geneva, Illinois, June 1967. We didn't share our table with the adults.

Together on the Same Day

Probably Canada, 1951 or 1952. Here again are Toronto Al's Parents, Vladas and Lea, with my friend Ron's Mom.

Party Pooped

Suburban Chicago, April 1960. The children sit in the dining room to celebrate a birthday. I perch in my high chair. The boy is my friend Ron. Here's another snapshot from the same party.

Stamped

Kaunas, Lithuania, 1943. This is the passport photo of Ron's Dad. You may have seen Ron's Dad earlier here; he's the fellow on the left, wearing the eye glasses.

Thanks to my friend Ron for making this photo available to us.

Tight

Munich, Germany, 1949. Here's my friend Ron with his Mom at the Displaced Persons camp.

Thanks to my friend Ron for making this photo available to us.

Uniformed

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1922. On the left stands Dr. B; a family friend joins him.

Thanks to my friend Ron for making this photo available to us.

An Old Memory

Probably Munich, Germany, about 1949. My friend Ron (the baby) shares tea with his Parents and a family friend at the Displaced Persons camp.

Thanks to my friend Ron for making this photo available to us.

Courtship

Probably Degendorf, Germany, about 1945. These are Ron's Parents when they lived in Germany as Displaced Persons.

Thanks to my friend Ron for making this photo available to us.

Family Physician

Kaunas, Lithuania, 1922. This fellow—a friend of Ron's family—was a physician.

Thanks to my friend Ron for making this photo available to us.

Fashion Forward

Lithuania, probably late 1930s or early 1940s. This is Ann, a relative of my friend Ron. I wish we wore hats today as often as people sported them way-back-when.

Thanks to my friend Ron for making this photo available to us.

A Little DP

Probably Munich, Germany, about 1949. Here's my friend Ron at the Displaced Persons camp.

Thanks to my friend Ron for making this photo available to us.

A Man and his Friend

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1922. This is Dr. B, another acquaintance of my friend Ron's family. The German-Shepherd dog seems relaxed, even if it wears a peculiar leash. Check out Dr. B's shoes and his white gloves.

Thanks to my friend Ron for making this photo available to us.

February Lady

Kaunas, Lithuania, February 23, 1943. It pleases me when old photos feature precise dates. This woman is another friend of my friend Ron's family. Is she holding a large mum or a small gourd?

("February Lady" is also a popular knitting pattern.)

Thanks to my friend Ron for making this photo available to us.

Simple Joys

New York, 1950. My friend Ron celebrates a happy day with his Mom and a family friend. All three were recent arrivals from a Displaced Persons camp. Ron recalls that the friend gave him his only toy, the doll he holds. The doll had only one eye.

Thanks to my friend Ron for making this photo available to us.