Reconnected

Brooklyn, New York, June 1974. My Parents visit with my Dad's cousins and their husbands.

Newly Tied

Brooklyn, New York, about 1952. My Dad's younger cousin and her husband exit the church.

Solemn

Brooklyn, New York, about 1952. My Dad's younger cousin exchanges vows with her husband.

Reunited

Brooklyn, New York, March 28, 1948. My Dad's twin sister, Jonė, visits her cousins—the two daughters of Victoria—during the Easter holiday.

Summer Table

Kačerginė, Lithuania, Summer 1940. My Dad's twin sister, Jonė—laughing, on the left—joins her cousins for a bowl of soup.

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

A Child's Summer

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1936. This little girl was the youngest child of my Dad's paternal Aunt Victoria. You may have seen her childhood photos earlier here, here, here, and here. She also appears as an adult in this photo on the far right, and on the left in this one.

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

Coastal

Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1952. My Dad's cousins visit the shoreline.

Relaxed

Zarasai, Lithuania, 1939. My Dad and his cousins enjoy the summer weather. I can't decide whether Dad is eating an apple or playing the harmonica.

A Gathering in the Garden

Kaunas, Lithuania, 1936. This snapshot of my Dad's extended family was taken on the same day as this "cousins" photo. My Dad, flashing a satisfied smile, is the only subject wearing eye glasses. To Dad's left stands his twin sister, Jonė. Behind my Dad is his mother, my paternal Grandmother Tatjana, who looks serene. Her husband, my paternal Grandfather, Vytautas, is behind her.

The woman standing next to Tatjana is her beloved sister-in-law, Victoria, a sibling of Tatjana's husband, Vytautas. You've seen images of Victoria earlier here and here. The gentleman on Tatjana's left is Victoria's husband, and the three young people standing behind and in front of Victoria are her children. I earlier posted a photo of many of these family members together here.

Check out the coats and the karakul neck wraps.

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making this photo available to us. It's pretty exciting when I see a photo like this one for the first time.

Swimwear

The warm weather leads me to think about trips to the beach.  Remember "svimvear" fashions?

Palanga, Lithuania, about 1933. My Dad's side of the family stretches out on the dunes. At the top, on the far left, is my paternal Grandfather, Vytautas, cradling his head in his palm. His wife, my paternal Grandmother Tatjana, is below him, leaning on her elbow. My Dad is at the very bottom of the tier, on the far right, wearing the swim trunks with the stay-up-halter strap. Behind him, wearing the worn swimsuit, is Vytautas's sister, Victoria. In the front, my Dad's twin sister, Jonė, craddles a cousin, Victoria's youngest daughter.

The young woman and teen boy reclining between Tatjana and Victoria are Victoria's other two, older children.

An Outing with the Cousins

My Dad was a small child, and he remained slight throughout his life. He and I were similar in size; many of the sweaters that my Mom had knitted for him fit me perfectly. 

Kaunas, Lithuania, 1936. Here's Dad and his twin sister Jonė, on the right, and two cousins.

Life in America is good.

Here's another group that looks like it's primed for a Hampton-style, sportswear photo shoot.

These immigrants preserved their heritage while seamlessly assimilating into the updated culture of their new homeland.

All American? These folks are visiting Coney Island?!! This is my Dad's paternal aunt, Victoria, with her two adult daughters.

Victoria had an especially close relationship with her sister-in-law, my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana. I'll have more to say about that later.

Coney Island Beach, New York, 1952. Victoria—the sister of my paternal Grandfather, Vytautas—and her daughters enjoy a crisp visit to the beach.

Twins, with a Cousin

The older children have learned that it's not customary to look at the camera.

Kaunas, Lithuania, about 1934. The youngest cousin of my Dad and Jonė sits between the twins.

Family Dinner

A happy family eats dinner together, and a good family meal always starts out with soup.

Kaunas, Lithuania, 1932. My Dad's family shares a meal. On the left, my bespeckled Dad sits next to my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana. Dad is wearing his scouting scarf. Moving to the right of Tatjana is Dad's older cousin, his paternal aunt, Victoria, my Dad's twin sister, Jonė, a younger cousin, and my paternal Grandfather, Vytautas.

There is a cut-crystal wine glass at each place setting.