My mom passed away a little less than a month ago. She was almost 97 1/2, and definitely the oldest person I have ever known. The last several years were tough–she was almost always unhappy and uncomfortable.

This is a tough one to write, and I don’t mean this as a eulogy. I am still processing, and I expect I will post more about my mom in the months to come.

I am now officially the Matriarch of the Family, and wondering what my legacy will be. My mother took up oil painting as a hobby when she turned 50. (That’s one of her paintings in the photo.) I am now in search of a cool new hobby that I can take up in retirement. Hmmm.

Mama always had some sort of alcohol in the house, in case friends dropped in. (They did.) She didn’t drink, except for tiny sips of sweet wine or even cognac occasionally. She did, however, believe in home remedies that did use alcohol. I remember coming home from college one Christmas break. I had a horrible cold and residual tummy spasms from the stress of exams. Mama mixed some homemade berry syrup with Polish spirytus —192 proof and that is not a typo!–and offered me a small crystal glass of this “handcrafted” cordial. I slept on the couch for hours and felt remarkably better.

Mama also believed in the curative powers of rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar, as well as in (the slightly more potable) Valerian root tea. She also loved chamomile. She’d buy the dried blossoms, and sometimes the tea bags, and would insist upon it for a variety of ailments. I drank plain chamomile tea when I had a stomach ache. Honey and lemon were added when I was coughing. When I was congested, she’d put the hot tea in a big bowl, and I’d cover my head with a towel and just inhale the steam. And when Mama recognized that my blonde hair wasn’t looking sun-kissed, she had me rinsing my locks with cool chamomile tea. To this very day, there is chamomile in my cupboard.

For tonight’s drink, I actually found a bonafide cocktail recipe using chamomile tea, honey, and lemon. And it actually tasted real good, too–not too potent, either, so Mama would probably sip on it if it were lukewarm.

Combine 1/2 ounce honey with 1/2 ounce boiling water until honey dissolves. Add 1 ounce rye whiskey, 1 ounce honey bourbon (like Wild Turkey American Honey), 1 ounce fresh lemon juice, and 1 cup chilled chamomile tea. Garnish with lemon, and don’t add ice. Na zdrowie!

Enjoyed: Sunday, April 2, 2023

Listed on the menu: No, but the bar boasted of its whiskey collection and creative–yet classy–cocktails, so making an Old Fashioned was not a burden. The bartender at first suggested bourbon, but I wanted an Irish whiskey while in Ireland.

Ingredients: Jameson Select Black Barrel Irish whiskey, Aperol, simple syrup, twist of orange peel.

The occasion: On our first full day in Dublin, we started with a crammed itinerary: full Irish breakfast, Trinity College, the Book of Kells, the Irish Whiskey Museum, and Christ Church Cathedral. We had afternoon tea at the Shelbourne Hotel booked for 5 pm, but we purposely arrived early, to scope out the historic hotel (where the Irish Constitution was drafted in 1922) and to visit the iconic Horseshoe Bar, which opened at 4 pm. We were the first patrons, and the handsome bartenders gave us their full attention. Husband wisely selected the El Greco Madness (Redbreast 12 whiskey, Aperol, Cocoa Vermouth made in house, orange bitters, and nutmeg) which was recently featured in Wine Enthusiast magazine. (The tea ended up being marvelous, by the way. So much care went into every little canape and every dessert item.)

My rating: **** out of 5. The Aperol was an interesting substitute for bitters, which together with the orange oil from the peel, gave the spicy whiskey a decidedly citrus note. The drink was not too sweet nor too bitter, with no muddled fruit in sight, so better to enjoy the gorgeous amber color.

Final thoughts: The Horseshoe Bar has hosted many famous people (like Pavarotti and the Rolling Stones), as well as a multitude of Ireland’s politicians, musicians, and authors, so that gave me a little thrill. The bar’s entrance is tucked off the main lobby, with only a little sign to label it. The horseshoe-shaped marble counter, the crimson couches, and the dim lighting all add to the glamour. There are no TV screens here, no piped in music, and no food: the focus is on the the drinks and the conversation, as it should be.

She said “yes”! Yesterday morning, Oldest Child sent a message to the family group chat: he had a life update. We knew he had the engagement ring, but we didn’t know when he would formally pop the question. Apparently he wanted to wait for a sunny day and a secluded spot on a waterway in the woods. Sounds romantic, private, and fitting for this remarkable couple. Later last night, the celebration continued with a gourmet dinner at a fancy restaurant in Nashville.

I have not stopped smiling. Husband and I are delighted to soon have another daughter. Our hearts are filled with joy!

As a dear friend said to me last night when I shared this news, “The circle of life continues.” Indeed. This special couple is starting a new chapter of life. Husband and I are looking forward to closing the “career” chapters of our lives, but as our recent trip to Ireland demonstrated, we still have the energy for new adventures. We still have hopes and dreams!

She said “yes”! The diamond ring is so pretty, but their obvious love is even more beautiful.

Tonight’s cocktail is my version of the “Diamond Martini”. Place vodka (the best is Polish, and today I used Chopin) and a stemmed glass in the freezer well ahead of time. Combine 2 ounces of vodka with 1/4 teaspoon of dry vermouth and gently pour into the frosty glass. Twist a piece of lemon peel over the drink, wipe the peel over the rim of the glass, and then drop the peel in. Sto lat!