Sized

Bulger Park, Veterans Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, February 1971. The girls perform at another Independence-Day celebration.

Patience

Suburban Chicago, June 1966. Our Lithuanian-School class waits for the speeches to end. We're in the school's basement again.

Helping with the bait.

Geneva area, Illinois, June 1965. We're at the Lithuanian-school picnic again.

Biting my Lip

Bulger Park, Veterans Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, Autumn 1965. I appear nervous about this recitation.

Check out the jukebox.

A Last Christmas Spin

Melrose Park, Illinois, December 1967. The sooner we finish, the sooner we'll get to the refreshments.

Christmas Manners: It's not too late the thank Santa.

Bulger Park, Veteran's Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, December 1966. He appreciates the effort.

Christmas Manners: Know your lines.

Suburban Chicago, December 1964. Santa won't hand over a gift unless you recite a poem.

Christmas Manners: Feign delight.

Suburban Chicago, December 1964. You know he's fake, but he did bring gifts.

Christmas Manners: Dance for Santa

Bulger Park, Veteran's Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, December 1966. It's a practiced routine.

Christmas Manners: Dance with Santa

Suburban Chicago, December 1964. The children from our Lithuanian school join in another round of "Jurgelis Meistrelis." I'm the girl with the eyeglasses; my friend Kris wears a plaid skirt and faces the camera.

Christmas Manners: Watch the teacher's cues.

Bulger Park, Veteran's Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, December 1966. I am relieved my part in the play has ended.

ADDED: Typo in header corrected. Usage!

Performance

Suburban Chicago, November 1964. A group from our Lithuanian school stages an early holiday performance.

A Poor Listener

Suburban Chicago, February 1964. I'm not paying attention to the poetry recitation; I'm watching Dad.

Young Performers

Melrose Park, Illinois, June 1970. The students from our Lithuanian School perform at the "Lithuania Day" celebration.

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.

Thank you for a lovely performance!

Bulger Park, Veterans Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, February 1966. The pianist accepts the applause at the annual Independence-Day minejimas.

The End of the Season

Buglar Park, Veteran's Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, December 1966. I thank the Lithuanian-school teachers for organizing the show.

Christmas Manners: Show your appreciation, even if he is a Santa Fake.

Bulger Park, Veterans Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, December 1966. The bunnies know how to be grateful.

Waiting for the pageant.

Melrose Park, Illinois, December 1963. I sit patiently with the other Lithuanian-school students while Father Stanley talks with the parents.

Christmas Manners: Don't ask questions.

Bulger Park, Veterans Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, December 1966. It seems ridiculous to be dressed as a mouse (or a rabbit) for a Christmas play. But I'm reciting a delightful poem.

(Was this costume the inspiration for the moose outfit?)