Pleased

Door County, Wisconsin, May 1969. Mom realizes she and Dad have found the right spot.

It's the fifth "Poppyversary" ... in Three Takes

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Verona, Wisconsin, August 2011. We brought Poppy home five years ago today.

Twenty-Seven Years

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

Still at the Party

Chicago, Illinois, August 1975. Mom enjoys some time with one of the celebrants.

An old favorite celebrates an anniversary.

My high-school classmates and I used to go here for pizza.

Restoration Day

Madison, Wisconsin, March 2016. Lithuania today celebrates the anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union. This poster, from the Lithuanian Parliament ("Sajudis") addresses the April 14, 1990 referendum.

It's Lithuania Week ...

... all week at the University Club in Madison. We enjoyed our meals there last year, and we'll be there tonight for a Madison Vilnius Sister Cities, Inc. dinner.

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Madison, Wisconsin, March 2015. Don't miss the Cepelinai (the star of the show).

Reception

Chicago, Illinois, August 1975. Mom attends an anniversary party.

Some dance in the modern style.

Chicago, Illinois, August 1975. Guests at an anniversary party hit the dance floor. I believe this event took place at "JC's."

This was a time when women often wore wigs and floor-length dresses to parties.

Happy Anniversary!

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New Glarus, Wisconsin, August 22, 2015. My Toronto Cousin and Toronto Al today celebrate a wedding anniversary. We love you guys!

Related by Marriage: Anniversary

Marquette Park, Chicago, Illinois, January 11, 1958. Mr. Irene' Parents got married fifty-eight years ago today.

It's the fourth "Poppyversary."

Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, August 2011. I had thought the anniversary of Poppy's arrival was August 7; I was wrong. It's today!

Here's Poppy reuniting with her family a few weeks after she came to live with us.

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Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, August 2011. Poppy always has been curious and fearless.

SS Eastland Disaster

Today is the 100th anniversary of the disaster. At the time, the Lithuanian newspaper, "Draugas," "speculated that there were few Lithuanian casualties, because 'Lithuanians always run late' and many did not make it to the ship on time."

Neither Mr. Irene nor I learned about this incident until recently.

Rexiversary

Rex came to live with us 10 years ago today. Here's the moment I met him:

Monona, Wisconsin, June 2005. The little fellow in the back is Rex's brother Carson.

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Monona, Wisconsin, June 2005. Rex was such a poised little fellow.

Seventy-Five Years Ago Today

The Soviets occupied Lithuania. Here are a few photos family members took that day.

An Anniversary

Schweinfurt, Germany, May 1948. My Parents married sixty-seven years ago today. That's my paternal Grandmother Tatjana (then fifty-one years old) and my maternal Grandfather Jake (then fifty-two year old) standing with the newlyweds.

"Over the fifteen years that Putin has ruled Russia, the story of the Great Patriotic War has acquired new meanings and symbols. Stalin’s name and likeness have gradually been reintroduced into the story–and into the streets of Russian cities."

A Russian examines the symbolism of Victory Day.

See also here.

Victory Day

Former Soviet republics reject symbols that celebrate the seventieth anniversary of Victory Day.

ADDED: Enjoy some humor.

Sold Out

Madison-Vilnius Sister Cities this week celebrated Lithuania's Restoration Day. The organization sponsored a banquet at The University Club; guests dined on Šaltibarščiai, Cepelinai, and Honey Torte. The food was authentic and delicious.

The University Club offered a Lithuanian menu this week. Mom and I popped in for lunch today. Misery! The Cepelinai we craved were sold out. So we had the Cabbage Rolls instead. The Cabbage Rolls were good, but Cabbage Rolls are something we easily make at home. Cepelinai are a production, and we rarely cook them. As a result, we didn't have what we had sought. We did start out, however, with the Šaltibarščiai. I thought the soup was excellent; Mom claimed my recipe is better. *Blushes.*

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(I asked the server to show me the machine the cook had used to grate the potatoes.)

Restoration Day

Today is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the day Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, about 2005. Toronto Al crafted this stained-glass Vytis.

(Here in Madison, the University Club is commemorating the anniversary with a special menu.)

ADDED: Here is a collection of clips Jonas Mekas filmed as he watched his television set that day.