A Tale of Two Bottles

I was recently asked to offer some thoughts on the theme, “Turning Points.” I immediately recalled two graphic turning points in my life. Both, as it turns out, had to do with a bottle.

Leningrad, 1982. It was the end of my first trip to the Soviet Union. As I stood in the hotel lobby, waiting for the airport bus, my last 20 ruble~s smoldered in my pocket. Across the lobby, I spotted a kiosk offering kitschy souvenirs and a small, 10 ruble bottle of vodka. Perfect.