Slivovitz from a student of my husband's in 1997. "Here's to Zelensky, that poor bastard."

[Hekate]

My husband, who was born in postwar Europe and came here at age 6, is really upset tonight. He answered me: “Here’s to Zelensky, a free Ukraine, and a free Europe.”

I’m having what amounts to a dropper-full of that stuff, because it is way potent. His student Nina, from the former Yugoslavia, brought him a small bottle of her grandpa’s homemade moonshine after a trip home in 1997. I labeled it and stuck it in a cupboard. Closed it pretty tight against evaporation.

But somehow it seemed the right thing to bring out tonight, then put away. I feel so sorry for Zelensky and his country.

God help them.

[MiniMe]

1. I was in Yugoslavia when I was 16

My Aunt served me a small water glass of it. You are right, very potent. That was back in the 70's, but I still remember it

[elleng]

2. 'Nazdarovya'

Dad used to joke about slivovitz.

[Hekate]

3. Apparently my late FIL (originally from Poland) used to like it, and could toss it back on occasion

With gusto.

He was gone by 1997, but my husband must have been telling Nina about him, hence the gift. It became kind of a joke at home, in part because none of my FIL’s sons can stomach alcohol. Slivovitz in a Bailey’s Irish Cream bottle, enshrined forever.