12-I-2018.

And that little memorial daća. The first thing was to fill a few bottles with rakija (1l of 2016 plum, 1,75 of the last of 2014 apricot), then go to the big market to get the flowers (there's the little market behind Lesnina and the little little market, just six stalls, near our community center here), then leave her at the cemetery and go home because I forgot to pack the rakija.

A few showed as expected (main four neighbors, headed by Paja, uncle Staja, auntie Janja, the last guy standing from the vineyard days), Zina with parents, few somewhat unexpected (aunt Milica, Jaca with her husband). Probably because of the incredibly good weather, felt like mid-october (and few days ago it was like spring). We held a little ceremony - my reasons why there was no priest were taken at face value. Some masons were building something at the next lot, so they quickly removed their tools from ours. The paths to this edge don't exist, the lots were allotted haphazardly and it's a real zigzag to get there, but these guys have breached the wall to bring in their tools and stuff, which they'll rebuild when finished. At least we didn't have to risk our necks on the way back, used this temporary gate.

Then we went to Debela mačka. The atmosphere was relaxed, first by all the neighbors being almost at home - they all live within 200m of the place - and that we all know Smilja. There was a nice confusion when aunt Milica asked who was the young woman sitting across. Well, Jaca. But the aunt thought it was the other one of the same name, widow of Aleksandar, which confused her to no end - who's the guy with her then? Well, her husband. Huh?

She also didn't recognize Arpi, but then that's a common mistake, several people we know have trouble memorizing his face.

---

Mentions: Aleksandar Zarin, Arpad Gunaroši (Arpi), aunt Milica, auntie Janja, daća, Debela mačka, Jasmina Sentović (Jaca), Lesnina, Paja Čkaljević, rakija, uncle Staja, Zina, in serbian

24-I-2018 - 27-III-2026