We're not gloomy.

Suburban Chicago, January 1962. My Toronto Cousin and I are happy to go outside, even if the skies are cloudy.

New Year's Day

Suburban Chicago, January 1965. Dad's fine; he only looks like he's recovering.

A New Year's Table

December 31, 1971. The New Year's parties got smaller over the years. We still shared a late meal before we headed to the Rec Room to watch Die Fledermaus.

"The Year, in Pictures"

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Kremlin Christmas

Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, December 1972. My Mom's maternal Aunt Dora sends a Christmas New Year's postcard. We're watching you!

Greetings from the USSR

It's "Creepy Christmas Lenin." Or New Year's Lenin.

Before the Party

Suburban Chicago, December 1965. My Godmother and her husband pop in for a visit on their way to a ball. I remember the dress vividly; the bodice was ivory and the skirt was gold. The gloves made a big impression.

The tree is up.

Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, about 1959. The family of my Kaunas Cousin prepares for the New Year celebration.

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

Table Scraps

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1966. Dad catches me feeding Ziggy.

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.

The Dining Room

Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, January 1958. My Dad's older cousin Henry, Henry's wife Suzanne, and Henry and Suzanne's daughter, Kaunas Nina, host a New-Year's celebration.

Thanks to Kaunas Nina's daughter—my Kaunas Cousin—for making this photo available to us.

Happy New Year!

Toronto Ontario, Canada, January 1, 1956. It's time to look to the future.

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

We toast, and then we dance.

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

Usually, we prefer to stay at home.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1968. We stay up and share a bottle of Cook's. Although it's a family night, we still use the fancy champagne glasses.

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.

It's time to dance.

Suburban Chicago, December 31, 1965. Lily and her dance partner know it's easy to dance in the basement because the basement floor isn't carpeted.

Babos Receptai (Part 6)

It's almost New Year's Eve, so it's time to think about the užkandžiai, or appetizers, that will grace the table. We always served "New Year's Eve Eggs" when our family hosted the party. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, also liked to prepare her version of shrimp cocktail, "Amerikoniškas Shrimp Cocktail."

Here is her recipe (note the chemical formulas at the bottom of the page):

Here is how I wrote up the recipe:

First Courses

Shrimp with Rice and Pink Sauce

Wash canned shrimp* in cold water and place on cheesecloth.

Cook the rice as though you were making chicken (and rice with white sauce).

Make the sauce from mayonnaise, sour cream, red horseradish, tomato paste, and a bit of salt and sugar.

Place the shrimp in the center of the plate [and surround with the rice]. Pour the sauce around the shrimp and the rice.

Let stand in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before serving.

*This recipes is from the 1950s. Midwestern grocery stores rarely carried "fresh" seafood. It was not uncommon to serve luxury foods, like shrimp and lobster, from cans.

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.