Caroline wanted to have a big autumnal bash. Like when she was a kid, she’d said. I had no problem with that. My girl wanted a party, so we’d have a party.

But I underestimated the power of nostalgia and what kind of shindig she had in mind. We have a fairly big backyard, and she was dead set on having “stations.”

“We can have a hot cider and/or a spiked cider station here,” she said, pointing toward the back fence. “And hay bales under the tree over here for folks to sit on.”

I nodded, going along with her process. Her pretty face was flushed pink with excitement and the chill. The weather was already nippy.

She led me toward the larger of our two sheds and said, “Here we can have pumpkin carving. Kids, adults, whoever wants to. We can prop... Read More