They're ready for the toast.

Suburban Chicago, June 3, 1989. Mr. Irene's Parents and my Mom stand by with the plate of bread, wine, and salt.

It's time to sing "Ilgiausių Metų" again.

Suburban Chicago, June 3, 1989. Here's a clip of the wedding guests singing "Ilgiausių Metų." When they finish the first verse, a woman asserts "Vaisingų!!", or "Fruitful Years!!" That prompts me to gesture a finger wag.

Related by Marriage: Brothers, Content

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, June 27, 1959. Wally, the husband of Mr. Irene's maternal Aunt Martha, and his brother celebrate Wally and Martha's wedding day.

There was a Jell-o Mold on the menu.

Suburban Chicago, December 1964. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, and a friend had a toasting tradition. Tatjana here flashes a rare, natural smile.

Related by Marriage: Cake Topper

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, June 1959. Mr. Irene's Parents and his maternal Grandparents, Stanley and Anna, toast Aunt Martha and Wally on their wedding day.

Related by Marriage: Wedding Toast

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, June 27, 1959. Mr. Irene's maternal Aunt, Martha, accepts the toast of wine, bread, and salt in celebration of her marriage to Wally.

Related by Marriage: Out on a Friday Night

Chicago, Illinois, December 1958. Mr. Irene's Parents raise their glasses in a toast.

Toast the end of the day.

Tinley Park, Illinois, December 1966. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana—on the right—raises a glass with her friend, the Mother-in-Law of my Godfather. You've seen a photo of the latter here, at my Parents' wedding.

Wedding Toast

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, January 1978. My Toronto Cousin and her husband, Toronto Al, toast their wedding party. We were scheduled to attend the festivities, but a Chicago blizzard resulted in the cancellation of flights out of O'Hare International Airport.

Twentieth Anniversary

My Parents celebrated their twentieth-wedding anniversary shortly after they returned from San Francisco. They hosted a party to mark the occasion.

The anniversary bash differed from our family's usual entertaining because it took place in the evening, not on a Sunday afternoon. Guests arrived on a Saturday night in their finest fashions, ready to eat, drink, and dance.

Suburban Chicago, May 1968. We are ready for the guests to arrive. Mom wears a gold, silk dupioni dress that she sewed. This was the beginning of the wig era.

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Suburban Chicago, May 1968. After dinner, some of the guests enjoyed coffee in the living room.

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Suburban Chicago, May 1968. Other guests enjoyed drinks and smokes in the Rec Room. Hey! We've seen some of these same folks before.

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Suburban Chicago, May 1968. After dessert, we dance. Here, my Godfather takes me for a spin.

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Suburban Chicago, May 1968. People make tender toasts to my Parents. (There's the taxidermied Mountain Goat head popping out from behind my Godmother's hairdo.)

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Suburban Chicago, May 1968. Everyone is tired by the end of the night. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, is about to doze off. My Mom has opened the Rec Room door leading to the backyard; it's probably gotten pretty smoky inside.