Even though my own children are now almost too old to go trick-or-treating, our house remains a popular stop among neighborhood parents. While Halloween may not fall on a Friday or Saturday night this year, that does not seem to stop the adult “trick-or-treaters” from knocking on our door looking for a goody of the red or white variety.

A couple of years ago, I thought it would be easier to just leave an ice bucket of wine on my porch alongside a bowl of candy with a sign that says, “Take Only One,” but liquor laws and teenagers quickly squelched that less-than-well-thought-out plan, so once again, I will sit at home and man the door and corkscrew.