My husband’s family celebrates Solstice every year. But this year was different. We were missing an integral member, my husband’s stepdad who would cook an Ethiopian feast (he is Ethiopian). So Fred’s boyfriend did a great job trying to recreate the meal as best he could with help from some of us.

It was a beautiful time spent with family, albeit bittersweet and we created new traditions like parol making and of course, someone else making the feast. I think next year, I want to try to cook. It was rainy so, we didn’t get to spend too much time outside and get a cozy fire going.