"Welcome to U.S.A.!"

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Atlantic Ocean, July 2, 1949. This is the last newletter the General Howze issued prior to docking in New York City. My friend Kris's Uncle Al did the artwork and hand lettering for the piece.

Thanks to Kris for making this document available to us.

A Later Visit

Suburban Chicago, Spring 1980. My Mom's best friend, Donna, finds a good spot.

Picnic Culture: Patio Storytelling

Suburban Chicago, June 1969. The woman standing, wearing sunglasses, is Godmother. Standing on the left is my Mom; my Mom's best friend, Donna, sits on the left.

Coo

Suburban Chicago, December 1983. My Mom's best friend, Donna, appreciates Meškė.

Spring Sunday

Suburban Chicago, April 1982. My friend Kris captures my Dad flirting with her Mom, Donna. Donna's brother, Uncle Al, and her Dad sit in the background. Dad holds his pipe.

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

I don't want to wait until Christmas to post this one.

Suburban Chicago, about 1956. My friend Kris recently sent this snapshot of her Mom—my Mom's best friend, Donna. Here, Donna visits her neighbor's home.

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

Dance Lesson

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1964. Vytenis, the husband of my Mom's best friend Donna, takes me for a spin. Donna's and Vytenis's daughter, Kris, just sent this photo. It surprised me: although my Dad snapped this image, it does not appear in our albums. There's a different photo from that evening in the 1964, black-and-white, volume, but I prefer this snapshot because it captures Vytenis's personality.

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

Counting stitches.

Door County, Wisconsin, October 1979. My Mom's best friend, Donna, knits in the opposite corner.

Exchanging Portraits (Part 42)

Chicago, Illinois, about 1950. This is Uncle Al, the younger brother of my Mom's best friend, Donna. Uncle Al sat for this photo shortly after he arrived in the United States.

Thanks to Uncle Al's niece—Donna's daughter, Kris—for making this photo available to us.

Independence Day

Bulger Park, Veterans Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, February 1965. The older girls sing during an Independence-Day minejimas. (The younger children waited in the audience until it was our turn to take the stage.)

That's my friend Ron at the piano. My friend Kris stands second from left. The braided trim on Kris's folkdress and mine were identical because our Mom's worked together to sew the blouses and aprons.

Crafty Afternoon

Door County, Wisconsin, August 1983. Mom tackles another needlepoint project while her best friend, Donna, works on her knitting. Meškė spots the camera.

(You might recognize the lamp.)

We toast, and then we dance.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1961. The party goers interrupt the dancing to share a toast.

A Toast from the Elders

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1969. Everyone gets into the mood.

A Smaller Gathering

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1971. This photo dates from about the time we started celebrating the New Year by watching Die Fledermaus.

We're drinking from my Mom's funky champagne glasses. Each glass has a different tinted hue. My Mom's best friend Donna (seated to my left) also had a similar set. I was delighted a few years ago when Mom gave me those glasses.

They danced in the Rec Room, too.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1961. After dinner, the guests moved to the Rec Room. The Rec Room's tiled floor was good for dancing. Things changed after we carpeted that area.

The party begins with a late meal.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1961. Friends gather around our dining room table for the late New Year's Eve meal. Dad was the "life of the party."

There are still photos from this party here.

Mistletoe Elf watches as friends gather.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1969. My Mom's best friend, Donna (right), and her husband Vytenis take their turn hosting the New Year's Eve gathering for our suburban enclave.

Party season again approaches.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1965. Are you ready for the festivities?

Knitting Together, Again

Door County, Wisconsin, October 1979. Mom and her best friend, Donna, share more knitting time. Mom's still working on that fair-isle, yoked sweater.

Sunday, at the Rest Stop

Lakeview Park, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, October 1979. My Mom's best friend, Donna, snaps an image of my Parents as the threesome heads home from a weekend in Door County.