Bridesmaids

St. George's Parish, Bridgeport, Chicago, Illinois, May 1953. Lithuanians commonly used folkdresses as wedding garb.

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

After the Ceremony

St. George's Parish, Bridgeport, Chicago, May 1953. My friend Nijole's Mom (standing, wearing the fur stole) attends a wedding.

Thanks to Nijole for making this photo available to us.

Related by Marriage: Strength Test

Fort Popham, Phippsburg, Maine, 1953. The friend continues to explore the landmark.

Related by Marriage: The Fort

Fort Popham, Phippsburg, Maine, 1953. A friend of Mr. Irene's Dad visits a landmark.

Driving near the border.

Spain, September 1953. A friend of my Dad's writes, "I'm in Spain, near the Pyrenees."

General Manners: Share someone else's joy.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, about 1953. My Toronto Cousin is delighted as her Dad, Kadis, helps his Goddaughter celebrate a birthday.

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making this photo available to us.

General Manners: Make new friends graciously.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, about 1953. Kadis introduces his daughter—my Toronto Cousin—to his Goddaughter.

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making this photo available to us.

Delighted

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Spring 1953. My Dad's twin sister, Jonė, must be taking this snapshot of her daughter (my Toronto Cousin) and her husband (Kadis).

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making this photo available to us.

Related by Marriage: Army Buddies (Part 25)

Camp Irwin, Barstow, California, January 11, 1953. In this "Army Buddies" snapshot, a fellow-immigrant soldier penned a Polish-language greeting to Mr. Irene's Dad.

A First Picnic

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Summer 1953. My Dad's twin sister, Jonė, and her husband, Kadis, treat my Toronto Cousin to a picnic.

A Back-to-Back Stroller Post

Toronto, Ontario, about 1953. My Dad's twin, Jonė, and her husband Kadis take baby Toronto Cousin out for an airing.

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making this photo available to us.

Pilgrimage

Lourdes, France, 1953. My Dad's friend sent this photo from the sanctuary.

Tatjana meets the new arrival.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1953. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, gets acquainted with my Toronto Cousin.

Related by Marriage: Desert Foliage

Fort Ord in lush Monterey Bay, near San Francisco, February 15, 1953. Mr. Irene's Dad and a buddy explore the area around the U.S. Army base.

UPDATE: The Fort Ord base was operational between 1917 and 1994.

Mr Irene's Dad and his buddy, another fellow Chicagoan from the suburb of Brookfield, are in the process of being honorably discharged from Army service. The two privates each received $389; that sum included a $143 travel allowance.

From Fort Ord, Mr. Irene's Dad and his friend went to San Francisco, spent the night at a YMCA, and then boarded a train bound for Chicago.

Related by Marriage: Apple-Picking Season

Location uncertain, autumn 1953. Mr. Irene's maternal Grandfather, Stanley, picks apples with his wife, Anna—on the right, blending in with the trees—and Anna's sister, Petra, on the left.

Road-Trip Ready

New York, Summer 1953. Here's another image of the Willys Aero-Eagle hardtop. The Willys was the first car my Parents bought after they emigrated to the United States.

Related by Marriage: Visitors from California

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, Summer 1953. Mr. Irene's Dad, on the left, welcomes his brother, Ignas, and Ignas's wife, Ellie, to Chicago. This was the couple's first trip to the Midwest after they married.

Ciao, Bella!

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, about July 1953. My Dad's twin sister, Jonė, introduces her daughter, my Toronto Cousin, to her mother, my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana.

Confidences

My Mom and her friend engaged in a chat at a picnic table. Someone took a snapshot of the conversation. Mom appears to be listening, sympathetically, to a confidence. The friend sent the photo to Mom and wrote on the back (in Lithuanian) simply, "Do you remember?"

Mom now does not recall the substance of the conversation.

Brooklyn, New York, Summer 1953. My Mom, on the left, and her friend share a private moment.