Tender

Near Erlangen, German, about 1944. By the time this woman—a medical-school classmate of my Mom's—gave Mom this snapshot, the woman's husband had long departed for the Eastern Front.

Continental Breakfast

Hotel Flora, Venice, Italy, June 1989. The sparrows arrive before we do.

Something's missing.

Glacier National Park, Montana, July 1968. I rarely saw Dad without his eyeglasses.

Let's take another look at that helmet.

Door County, Wisconsin, July 1978. The helmet generated many laughs.

Lakeside

Door County, Wisconsin, July 1978. Several things here illustrate Dad's sense of humor.

Fish Boil: It's a meal of boiled fish.

Door County, Wisconsin, July 1980. We treat my Godmother and her husband to a traditional Door County meal.

A Closer Look (Part 73)

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1940. That's a long pipe!

Here's the original post.

Holiday Weekend

Cape Cod, Massachusetts, July 1963. Mom's knitting bag is nearly within reach.

Related by Marriage: Shoot Yourself

Evanston, Illinois, November 1979. A college friend and Mr. Irene try out for Northwestern's annual yearbook tradition, "Shoot Yourself."

A Saturday Visit to the Waiting Room

*     *     *     *     *

Suburban Chicago, December 1972. I don't recall why we visited Mom's office that day. Perhaps Dad wanted to hang some more photos in the waiting room (where, like in most doctors' offices, the magazines were plentiful and outdated).

Notice the $2.00 charges for non-business-hours telephone consultations. I worked in that office as a receptionist during the summers; here I am sewing that blouse.

A Favorite Pastor

Suburban Chicago, about 1967. He always carried a lit cigar, and the children loved him.

Reception

Chicago, Illinois, August 1975. Mom attends an anniversary party.

Weekend Coffee

Suburban Chicago, 1979. Dad and Mom are guests for coffee. I see a box of slides on the coffee table. It could be a long afternoon.

Related by Marriage: Study Habits

Evanston, Illinois, January 1977. College classes resume today. Be prepared!

Gift Exchange

Suburban Chicago, December 1962. I'm on the floor, observing the guests. Hey! That little fellow has a bottle of my favorite soda.

Related by Marriage: Wall Art

Evanston, Illinois, about 1977. Mr. Irene and his dorm hallmates celebrate their paint job.

A Closer Look (Part 54)

Palanga, Lithuania, about 1920. This is my paternal Grandfather, Vytautas. He was 26 years old in 1920. Family members referred to Vytautas as "the grey one" because his hair color changed when he was quite young.

We don't have many photos of him in civilian clothing; I would enjoy seeing him wearing that hat.

Here's the original post.

Cake, in Three Takes

*     *     *     *     *

*     *     *     *     *

Suburban Chicago, Spring 1973. My Toronto Cousin and I share a Pepperidge Farm walnut layer cake. There was a period when we used to pick up one of those frozen cakes. We recently looked for that cake, but it apparently has been discontinued.

This photo set shows how pink our kitchen was. Behind us is the dishwasher and the Roper wall oven. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, is washing dishes; the dish rack holds a plastic tumbler from the Jewel Food Store.

I'm wearing a turquoise ring my Parents bought when we first vacationed in Glacier. On my left hand is a minuscule ruby ring that belonged to my maternal Grandmother, Jadzė. I also wear the dainty watch I selected in Switzerland. There's instant coffee and a copy of "Draugas" on the table.

(Neither my Toronto Cousin [ever] nor I [in 1973] smoked; that looks like Dad's ashtray. Do you remember crafting ashtrays and trivets with those little tiles? Who supervised you when you spread the grout?)

Ah! The checkered dish towel is still in use.

Relaxed

Near Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, July 1954. Dad was 30 years old when Mom took this photo.

A Wider View

Suburban Chicago, April 1974. Mom knits while she visits with my Dad's paternal Aunt Victoria.