Magic Elixir

12-24-19
Old German neighbors taught us how to toast Christmas Eve and the coming new day with dark, unfiltered beer slowly poured into large glass steins. We stood in their kitchen, as the clock closed in on midnight, watching the thick foam rising to the rim, turning a reddish purple, as there was thick raspberry syrup in the bottom of each glass. Fresh raspberries simmering on the burner for an hour had created the magic elixir. With glasses full, Erik would rise, say a few words regarding the value of neighbors and friendship, his wife, Frieda, would cry, my mom and sister would smile, and my father allowed me a sip or two from his glass. It was more like a plunge than a sip - and I can still picture the reddish purple foam at the end of my nose.