Photos

Let me begin by saying that until the day I took this picture I didn't know either Lukian or his mother. We were visiting the Ukrainian Carpathian village of Sokoliwka (which, small though it is, has many parts to it and they each have their own separate name) and our hosts took us around to meet various people. Lukian was someone they conscripted to help take us around, and he also wanted to show off his own home and family. Thus we met his very hospitable mother (they were ALL extremely welcoming and hospitable) who began to tell everyone about her bad heart. I'm not sure if she really had a bad heart or was just complaining of some pains in that area, but I was amused when she told us that she'd already (that morning) taken some vodka for it. I myself at the time had major stomach acid problems and couldn't even HOLD a bottle of alcohol without feeling the ill effects, and believe me, it is almost impossible to refuse booze that's offered to you in the Ukraine, it is just about the ultimate insult to a host. You can have (over)eaten all the food on their table, spent hours visiting with them, accepted every proferred gift, but refuse alcohol?? Prepare for the duel.

(Scanned photo.)