Bittersweet moments

Growing up, if I had a non-stomach sick, especially cold/flu types, Mom would make "Russian tea". The name derives from the alcohol in the original, I assume, but the version she made was just orange juice, lemon juice, water, a rather appalling amount of sugar, a touch of nutmeg, and some almond extract. It is best served hot, or at least on the edge of hot. (The original recipe as Mom wrote it down is scanned and can be seen at http://pics.livejournal.com/kyrielle/pic/0002dt9e/g22 - I substitute vanilla extract rather than almond.)

Tonight, it occurred to me that Drew - who has a nasty cold, which he has kindly shared in reduced form with both parents - is now able to handle hot drinks just fine with only minor parental monitoring (he likes tea, and loves his Dad's hot chocolate!). So, I got the ingredients together and made a batch.

He and Scott have both had some, and Drew likes it so much he asked for more when I gave him the chance. I love it too, but given the appalling amount of sugar, I'm skipping having it for this cold (well, except for a sip test for taste and heat level, but that was literally a sip).

I feel good about that. And touched. And sad. Because in a way, my mother has just helped to take care of a grandson she never lived to see.