Gathered

Suburban, Chicago, October 1967. There's a reception under way.

After-Dinner Conversation

Suburban Chicago, October 1972. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, chats with Vytenis. Tatjana dozes again; she had narcolepsy. She wears the watch we bought for her in Switzerland.

A New Year's Table

December 31, 1971. The New Year's parties got smaller over the years. We still shared a late meal before we headed to the Rec Room to watch Die Fledermaus.

Table Scraps

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1966. Dad catches me feeding Ziggy.

Dance Lesson

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1964. Vytenis, the husband of my Mom's best friend Donna, takes me for a spin. Donna's and Vytenis's daughter, Kris, just sent this photo. It surprised me: although my Dad snapped this image, it does not appear in our albums. There's a different photo from that evening in the 1964, black-and-white, volume, but I prefer this snapshot because it captures Vytenis's personality.

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

Men in Caps

Chicago area, about 1980. My friend Kris sent this photo of her Dad, Vytenis (standing, second from left), and his engineering-school classmates. Kris writes:

The photo of all the men with sashes and funny hats is a reunion of my Dad's engineering fraternity from college. It was called Plienas. Dad attended Kaunas University. Some of the surviving members used to get together in the Chicago area occasionally. They had reproduction hats and sashes made for one of the early reunions. I remember my Dad saying that a clean cap was the sign of a new member, so the newbies used to take their hats outside and throw them in the dirt and stomp on them to make them look like they had been worn for a while. I think Mom still has the hat and sash tucked away in a drawer. I'll try to find it and photograph it. As I recall it has three intertwined letters embroidered in metal thread (Plienas means "Steel") on the top of it representing the motto.

More on cap traditions here.

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

Sunday Sendoff

Suburban Chicago, October 1983. My Parents hosted a small dinner party the week before I moved to Venice. I don't recall cooking for the occasion, but it looks like we served turkey, roast beef, "Cauliflower Polonnaise," baked potatoes, and salad.

Some of the guests—Vytenis, my Godmother, my Godmother's husband, and my Godmother's father—listen to a description of my plans.

We toast, and then we dance.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1961. The party goers interrupt the dancing to share a toast.

A Toast from the Elders

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1969. Everyone gets into the mood.

A Smaller Gathering

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1971. This photo dates from about the time we started celebrating the New Year by watching Die Fledermaus.

We're drinking from my Mom's funky champagne glasses. Each glass has a different tinted hue. My Mom's best friend Donna (seated to my left) also had a similar set. I was delighted a few years ago when Mom gave me those glasses.

They danced in the Rec Room, too.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1961. After dinner, the guests moved to the Rec Room. The Rec Room's tiled floor was good for dancing. Things changed after we carpeted that area.

The party begins with a late meal.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1961. Friends gather around our dining room table for the late New Year's Eve meal. Dad was the "life of the party."

There are still photos from this party here.

Mistletoe Elf watches as friends gather.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1969. My Mom's best friend, Donna (right), and her husband Vytenis take their turn hosting the New Year's Eve gathering for our suburban enclave.

Waiting

Melrose Park, Illinois, December 1963. The parents wait for the Christmas pageant to begin.

The Adults' Table

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

Weekend Warm Up

Tinley Park, Illinois, June 1967. Enjoy a picnic if the weather still cooperates.

Backyard Picnic

Suburban Chicago, July 1969. My Mom's best friend, Donna, and Donna's husband, Vytenis, host a barbeque. Mom brought her knitting bag.

Ziggy is in the picture.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1966. My friend Kris and her Parents—my Mom's Best Friend, Donna, and Vytenis—pose with Ziggy.

Sunday Lakeshore

Door County, Wisconsin, July 1979. The family of my friend Kris—her Dad Vytenis, one of the Heidis, her maternal Grandfather, and her Mom Donna—visit my Parents.

Cheers

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1964. Happy New Year from the years and the occasions on the Amber Reunion timeline.