View Reunion

Madison Public Library, Madison, Wisconsin, February 14, 2016. Look up.

An Independence Day "Minejimas"

Today, February 16, is Lithuanian Independence Day. The holiday celebrates Lithuania's independence, in 1918, from the Russian Empire. Now, of course, there is a second Independence Day—a restoration day—marking the day Lithuania broke from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Lithuanians recognize both days. Traditionally, groups host a "Minejimas," or commemoration, filled with speeches, poetry recitations, music, and dancing. 

Here in Madison, Madison-Vilnius Sister Cities, Inc. organized a similar reception. We gathered at the Central Madison Public Library. We ate some goodies (I baked a Trupininis Pyragas), and then Nijole shared a presentation about the history of the Žaibas Dance Group. Žaibas this year celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary.

Madison, Wisconsin, February 14, 2016. The library offered a beautiful room for the gathering.
 

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Nijole created a display featuring items from Žaibas's history (yes, the group danced at a festival in Japan. And in Argentina).
 

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Ah, "[w]e were so much younger then."
 

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We chatted before the program.

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We stood for the Lithuanian National Anthem. No one had an excuse for not knowing the lyrics.

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Nijole began her presentation.
 

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Current and former Žaibas dancers rose to applause.
 

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Nijole spoke about the history of folk dancing, especially among the Displaced Persons living in postwar camps. You may have seen this photo earlier.
 

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And this one, too.

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We have a great group! 

Think Big.

River Forest, Illinois, November 1975. Here's another image from my stint as a high-school yearbook photographer. I took this in the office of the school's library. You likely notice the card catalog and typewriter. Did you see the film-strip canisters?

Presidential Library

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Yorba Linda, California, October 1990. Mr. Irene and I enjoyed the museum. The Watergate exhibit is excellent. I also was delighted to see Tricia Nixon's wedding dress. (The library now markets itself as a wedding venue.)

Sweater Weather

Suburban Chicago, 1973. Gigi wanted some bundling, too.

Needled

"Knitting group told they can't meet at local library because of 'dangerous needles'."

(I belong to a knitting group that meets in a library.)

Repurposed

A former Walmart store now houses America's largest library.
 
Thanks to my friend Nora for pointing out this link.

"A Historic Way to Beat the Heat"

Cranapple Shake.

"Mystery knitters add warm touch to Naperville statue[.]"

Public library's "Cat in the Hat" statue yarnbombed.