Kaunas

Kaunas was a lovely City, build on 2 rivers- where NERIS river ran in to NEMUNAS. Population was 180.000, with all the Govenament buildings , Museums, University and parks. It was called"Paris of the North"- woman were elegant, social life in full swing.

There were 2 clasess of people- and the upper clas did well. Naqtional Theater was very active and movies were braught from America and other countries.Winter braght Ice scating and cross country skiing. Very Sports oriented  nation and youth.

Kaunas

We lived on this mountain, called Zalias kalnas. The president was Antanas Smetona/ free translation- Souer cream-haha/, Lithuania was Democratick Republick, became independent in 1918, February 16th.'  My Dad had a high position in the Gaverment and the life was good!

Moving to KAUNAS

I did have an older brother, JURGIS_ George, by 2 years.He was spoiled by  my Mother, Grandmother and the housekeeper Leukadija. I always had to have him his way till I was about 12 and put my foot down! 

 Anyway, he was going to AUSROS boys school and I was going to AUSROS  Girls school.I  skiped 2 years in one- was a smart girl.

 My class only had 13 girls- it was called "pirma reformuota klase." We were first to graduate.

 More later.

Finaly- KAUNAS, 1935

Just a few notes of appreciation to Nicos friends who read my blog!

 I was 10 years old when we moved to Kaunas, which was a Temperary Capital, because Polish had ocupied our Capital= VILNIUS,

 My mother had a hard time to find a house for rent, because we had this big piano- concert Royal, made out of cherry wood. I was the 5th generation playing it. Finaly, we moved to Zanavyku gatve, 16 numeris. That is all for today!

Still Virginia

Ei, first note from my blog readers! Aciu aciu- thanks in LithuaniAN. PROMISSE TO WRITE a new one todaY. Wait till the war srarts- getts realy good! I was 13 years old when first German bombs srarted falling on Kaunas. Never stoped, for 3 years.

 GOT  TO GO NOW,  Tata    TITI

Labas- it is today, February 12th, 2009

Just a few words to my blog readers- I am going to Georgetown to pick up Nikushka and have lunch with him and Sama.

 See you there!    IGK

Still Utena

I was 10 years old when we moved to Kaunas so all this is before I was 10.

My Mothers parents, Stase Priagauskas and Vaclovas Prialgauskas, Lived in ZemAITIJA, NEAR PLUNGE, on a little country estate and we used to go there for couple of month during the Summer. It was like 6 hour train ride and the train left early in the morning and I remember shivering on the platform. The house kepper, Leukadija, used to go with us- had a whole picknick packed in a basket./ More tomorrow/

Still Utena

I am so surprised, that compleate strangers read my blog and find it interesting! Great!

More from Utena

My Dad, who was a Controler  for two states, had to travel a lot. At that time in Lithuania the buss system and train system was very poor.Very few people could aford a car- so my Dad baught a HARLEY DAVIDSON motor cycle, and it had  a "lopseli" as it was called. that is a little space on the side so you coulod have a pasenger. 

 I hated to ride in it- everybody else loved it.

No hotels were avelable in small town so my Dad stayed at friends or at the Parish House- he knew all the Monsiniors!!

More from Utena

I must have been seven or eight years old- but I remember it so clearly........ Lithuanian Government used to sighn a contrackt with Germany or England to supply some food produckts from our farmers, Neither country had enough of their own food. One year the produckt was thousands of GEESE, that Germany was to buy. And they did not for some reason, so Lithuanian G0vernament was stuck with them! They come up with the plan, that all the Governament workers  had to by an amout of birds acording what grade workers they were.

My DAD was 12t grade- so9 we had to buy 12 geeses. We ate them roasted, cooked, baked ,Smoked. Everybody was SICK of them! One other thing they made- was "pastetas" out of liver- Fois Gras in french. And lots of feathers for pillows! I have one here in America.

 That is my goose story......

Fish soap.

First of all- today is the twins 17th BIRTHDAY= Samantha and Spencer getting old!I told this story to Sigita= she thaught I should put it on the Blog. 

 It is when I was 7 or 8 years old, and we lived in Utena. On market days a little car used to come to town, shaped like a FISH and the top would open and a little person- a real midget, would stick his body out and throw these little soaps at people, that were shaped like little fish.   We kids loved it! He was advertising a ZUVELE   SOAP.

 I had a whole box of it at home! /That must have been 1932 or 1934

2009 January

Well, just a few words where I am and what I am doing-  then I will start my thaughts about the past.

 Since before Christmas I been visiting Clarks in Virginia and Dodds in DC.

 Had lovely Christmas, Was here for the Inauguration of 44th President- BARACK   OBAMA- NOW JUST WAITING FOR WINTER TO BE OVER!

 IN TWO DAYS IT WILL BE SAMANTHAS AND SPENCERS 17TH  BIRTHDAY- time sure is going  fast.

 Nicos 19th BIRTHDAY will be March 19th- he is a freshman at Georgetown   University.

 We are meeting them today for diner.

Well, that is it for today,    IGK