What is a Spirit?

Recently the kids and I went out to run some errands.  Our first stop was the home of a friend of Elizabeth's whose grandmother had passed away a few days before, the second stop, the beer distributor.  In Pennsylvania you have beer distributors and state run liquor stores.  You can't get wine and beer at the same place.

While getting Brian buckled into the car after leaving Elizabeth's friend's house, Elizabeth says to me, "Mom, what's a spirit?"

At this moment I'm thinking, Wow, that's a really deep question, like how the Catechism talks about God being spirit and she must be wondering since her friend's grandma just died.  How the heck am I supposed to answer that?  Oh dear, I have to give some kind of response....

I say, "You mean like God is a spirit?"

"No, mom, like a spirit you drink.  Like there's wine and spirits," Elizabeth replies.

Phew!  Dodged that bullet.  I still don't really know how a "spirit" is defined in drink land, but at least I don't have to spew bad theology.

"Well honey, I think it's an alcoholic drink not made from grapes that has a lot more alcohol in it.  Like rum is made form sugar, for example."

End conversation.

Now I suppose I need to read a little about how "spirit" is defined, in both senses, but for the time being I'm just enjoying a little laugh whenever I think of this conversation.  Here's a little hello from my little ones: