Classmates

Kedainai, Lithuania, May 28, 1932. The girl in the bottom row, on the left, is the Mother of my friend Nijole. The students wear the identifying uniforms typical of that era.

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

A Closer Look (Part 53)

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1938. This is my maternal Grandmother, Jadzė, and my Mom. I hadn't thought about this photo in a while, but Mom today mentioned the picnic at which it was taken. As the group lunched in the forest, a fortune teller approached Mom. The fortune teller read Mom's palm. She stated Mom would live "in another country, across the deep ocean" and correctly predicted how many children Mom would have. Everyone laughed.

The fortune teller then read Jadzė's palm. The woman shook her head and said nothing to Jadzė.

Stepping Back

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1940. Here's the original framing of a photo I posted earlier.

Exchanging Portraits (Part 41)

Probably Schweinfurt, Germany, about 1946. One of my Dad's friends—a fellow Displaced Person—gave Dad this photo-booth snapshot featuring him and his daughter.

A Closer Look (Part 16)

Mariampolis, Lithuania, December 24, 1936. My Mom cherishes her Christmas gift. The doll may be wearing Polish folkdress; Mom's maternal Grandmother, Zigmunta, was Polish.

Here's the original post for this photo.

Related by Marriage: Greetings from Our Camp

Wiesbaden, Germany, about 1946. Cousins of Mr. Irene's Dad send a snapshot taken at the Displaced Persons Camp at which they lived.

Hello, Friend!

Kaunas, Lithuania, January 24, 1940. My Mom's high-school classmate presents a photo. This was the era when it became fashionable for young women to acquire custom-made folk costumes.

Related by Marriage: Plow Sharing

Goodman, Wisconsin, Summer 1940. Mr. Irene's Mom, on the right, leans on the plow on Cousin O's farm during a family visit to the property. Mr. Irene's maternal Aunt, Martha, sits on the plow.

Trakų Pilis

May 25, 1940. My Mom's high school class goes on a field trip to the national landmark, Trakų pilis , or "Trakai Castle." Mom is the student standing in the back, in the center of a group of three young women. She's the one with a visible neck tie.

Picnic Culture: An Informal Display

I've posted many of our photos that feature Chekhov moments. But we still have a few more to share.  

Here's one of my favorites:

 

 

Kaunas Lithuania, about 1938. My Mom—on the far right, with the bow-tied braids—sits in front of my maternal Grandmother, Jadzė, as they enjoy a picnic in the park with two sets of neighbor families. People liked to relax while wearing swim trunks.

Garden Moment

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1940. My Mom stands with her mother, Jadzė, in the backyard of their home. Within that year, the Soviets would occupy Lithuania, my Mom's paternal Grandfather, Cody Sr., would die of a ruptured appendix, and Jadzė would fall to an aggressive cancer.