DEAR MISS MANNERS: When internet hosting a cocktail hour, how does the hostess gracefully navigate the amount of meals served?
For instance, if the cheese platter is diminished to some bites, ought to the hostess be consistently monitoring and replenishing it, even when the deliberate “hour” has handed?
I definitely don’t need to seem stingy with friends. However bringing out extra meals appears to encourage lingering and drifting into supper time and past.
I used to be taught that as a visitor, I mustn’t take the final piece of something — crackers, nuts, sweet or cheese. Is that also the case? It appears to me that vacant platters ought to sign that it’s time to say “thanks and goodbye.” However does it seem churlish to go away the bowls and platters empty?
GENTLE READER: Fill or clear any empty receptacle, through which class Miss Manners consists of the friends.
So if Uncle Lance is lingering by the dessert desk, hoping for one thing extra, swoop him up and introduce him to any out there visitor within the subsequent room. Ultimately the desk can be empty and the friends will get the concept and go house.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’m at present being handled for a medical drawback. The difficulty is predicted to completely resolve in time, however it’s briefly forcing me to work part-time, and prevents me from taking part in sure actions which might be normal in my line of labor.
I due to this fact have to clarify to purchasers and others that my present availability is proscribed. I often give them an abbreviated model of the rationale, simply in order that they know that I’m not making one thing as much as keep away from doing the work or to present myself extra time to get it finished.
Most individuals simply sympathize and need me a speedy restoration, which is ok. However some interject very spiritual needs for me, reminiscent of assuring me that “The good Lord is looking out for you and will take care of you for a full recovery.”
This makes me uncomfortable — first as a result of I don’t recognize inserting spiritual beliefs into enterprise transactions basically, and second as a result of I don’t subscribe to the identical faith because the individual making this assertion.
I do know that individuals who say this imply effectively, so I often simply say “Thank you” and attempt to transfer rapidly to a different subject. Is there a swish method to discourage these feedback?
GENTLE READER: Here’s a perhaps-novel method to discourage individuals from introducing their private beliefs into skilled dealings: Don’t you do it first.
This consists of stating your perception that your explanations is probably not believed.
Quite than abbreviate your medical analysis, omit it completely. You possibly can cease speaking after saying, “I have a medical condition that temporarily requires me to work part-time,” and Miss Manners thinks you have got each likelihood of being taken at your phrase.
She can not promise an on the spot restoration for the present pandemic of Too A lot Info: You should still need to say “thank you” from spiritual well-wishers and transfer on. However it’s a begin.
