Is it odd to feel so proud of how the party turned out? Because I do. I am beside myself with happiness right now, seeing my yard aglow with fairy lights and a crackling fire. The flowers are in full bloom, too, and Walt brought some sort of special bug deterrent he heard about at work, and it’s really keeping unwanted pests away.

I shimmy a little every time someone groans with pleasure at the taste of the food. I suggested a bunch of different charcuterie plates for ...