Sneezy

Melrose Park, Illinois, August 1962. Keep your hands away from your face after you pet the pony.

Before the Ceremony

Melrose Park, Illinois, June 1989. Members of Vėtra, the Connecticut folkdance group with which Mr. Irene performed, gather outside the church before our wedding. Vėtra later did a few numbers at the reception.

Familiar-Place Reunion

Melrose Park, Illinois, September 2016. The old place still runs a good business.

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.

Back to School

Sacred Heart School, Melrose Park, Illinois, 1967. Don't worry; it will be great to see the gang.

Mortgage Rates

Suburban Chicago, about 1957. Here are the rates the builder proposed for the subdivision in which my childhood home stood.

Thanks to my friend Mary for making this document available to us.

Patience

Sacred Heart School, Melrose Park, Illinois, Spring 1967. My third-grade teacher tolerates the class crush.

"Luxury Features Galore"

Suburban Chicago, about 1957. The developer of the subdivision in which I grew up lists the modern features of the split-level homes. That Roper wall oven (and those birch cabinets) served our family for 34 years.

Thanks to my friend Mary for making this document available to us.

Ah, Recess

Sacred Heart School, Melrose Park, Illinois, May 1967. It looks like we're playing "Red Rover."

"We're as busy as bees!"

Sacred Heart School, Melrose Park, Illinois, Spring 1967. This is my third-grade teacher. She was the subject of the "class crush."

I love the crisp, cotton, shirt dress, its Peter Pan collar, and the pintuck pleats. Doesn't the dress make you think "starch"?

Christening

Sacred Heart Church, Melrose Park, Illinois, December 1958. My Godmother's husband must have taken this snapshot; recall Parents and Grandparents do not, in our culture, attend baptisms.

Twenty-Seven Years

Melrose Park, Illinois, June 3, 1989. We're celebrating an anniversary.

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.