Food

The rift forms

Last year’s patriotic Jell-O mold was a hit. A wiggly, jiggly, gelatin hit. This year, not so much. The handmade brown and taupe stars I used to garnish the small, bulbous mold weighted down the peach Jell-O structure, which was weakened by a half cup of blackberry-infused vodka. A rift quickly formed, which was symbolic. Midway through the Jewish-hotdog-chardonnay-cicle-and-kiddie-pool party I held at my house, the Jell-O seemed to be attempting an escape. It too wanted independence. Finally, one of my guests and I broke down and sipped it through a straw—klassy. Being free is nice.

The Jell-O tries to escape

Only to be eaten