In this personal and funny third installment with Dinna, we revisit stories from her early adulthood and parenting years. She recounts her brief history with a charming suitor named Mark. The episode then turns to Elliot’s chaotic childhood memories—from pig pens and laundry detergent pranks to tree-climbing and stuttering episodes—most of which Dinna can't corroborate but reacts to with warmth, laughter, and occasional horror. The two explore the fuzziness of memory, the culture of Soviet parenting, and the mystery behind a sudden speech impediment cured through sessions with a language therapist. It’s a rich, multi-generational reflection on love, memory, parenting, and the sometimes surreal nature of family lore.

In this eleventh installment of Sammy’s story, we pick up as the family leaves Italy and arrives in Calgary in late 1979. Sammy, joined by his grandson Ramone, reflects on first impressions of the city—its emptiness, its sprawl, and the early days spent downtown near Prince’s Island Park. He recalls landing a drafting job within weeks, launching a 38-year career with the same company during Calgary’s oil boom. He and Dinna quickly adapted to English through work, newspapers, and community life. Ramone prompts stories about school strikes, cultural gaps at Hebrew school, and the excitement of getting their first color TV—a massive set that introduced young Elliot to cartoons, hockey, and Battlestar Galactica.

In this episode, Sammy looks back on the six months he, Dinna, and their seven-year-old son spent in Italy after leaving the USSR — the first time any of them had lived in a new country. He shares what it was like adjusting to a completely different culture, finding a routine, and navigating the immigration process. The decision to move to Canada instead of the U.S. wasn’t random — it was a practical choice based on what made the most sense for their future. It’s a mix of culture shock, parenting, and figuring things out one step at a time.