Related by Marriage: A Twist on the Sunday Ritual

Suburban Chicago, Summer 1964. The family changes the routine and spends a Sunday together at Mr. Irene's home. The furnishings identify the house: there's that coffee table, and Skippy's cage is in the corner.

Left to right are Mr. Irene's maternal Grandparents, Stanley and Anna; Mr. Irene on his Dad's lap; Aunt Martha and her husband Wally; and Anna's sister, Petra.

Related by Marriage: A New Guitar

Suburban Chicago, 1969. Mr. Irene not only plays the accordion; he also is an accomplished guitarist. The bird is "Skippy," the parakeet who talked.*

*On the back of the photo, Mr. Irene notes the bird is "Skippy III."

Related by Marriage: Skippy

Mr. Irene grew up with one type of pet: parakeets. There was a succession of parakeets; he named all of them "Skippy." Only one Skippy, however, learned to talk. That was the *blue* Skippy.

Suburban Chicago, January 1971. Mr. Irene, fresh home from classes, is still wearing his grade-school uniform as he greets Skippy. He's standing in the corner of the living room, near the coat closet. Mr. Irene's Mom wrote on this photo, "'Skippy,' your best friend."