DEAR MISS MANNERS: I’ve an expensive buddy who, each time I see her, insists on greeting me with a kiss on the lips.
Once I try to show the opposite cheek (pun supposed), she firmly redirects me again into place.
I’m at a loss for the best way to tackle it.
The one silver lining of masking up was that it supplied a pure barrier, one she fortunately by no means tried to bypass. However now, I discover myself questioning: Ought to I begin carrying masks once more only for her?
The considered bringing it up feels awkward, particularly since she is a heat, beneficiant and genuinely form individual. I simply suspect she might have missed an important lesson in private boundaries.
GENTLE READER: The tried and trusted “I don’t want you to catch anything,” stated earlier than your buddy will get an opportunity to lock in, is an possibility. If, after doing this a number of occasions, she will get suspicious and accuses you of not being sick, Miss Manners suggests you say, “See? It’s working.”
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I get pleasure from theater and concert events and am ready to deal with others to those occasions. I normally buy two tickets and invite a buddy who would possibly benefit from the occasion.
Sadly, a few of these pals both don’t reply, or say that they wish to wait earlier than answering, because of different anticipated commitments (work, youngsters’s actions). In some circumstances, they settle for, then cancel very near the occasion.
Within the former two circumstances, I comply with up with an inquiry as as to if they can attend. If not, I then supply tickets to different pals. For the reason that cancellation is usually a day earlier than, I’m left to seek out one other individual to come back on the final minute.
Usually, I must ask a number of individuals earlier than discovering one who’s free. I’m not sure the best way to phrase these invites, as it’s going to appear that the individual was not my first selection. I’m additionally not sure if I can contact a number of individuals on the similar time to see who can attend, then “uninvite” the one who responds final.
I’ve typically gone alone, however don’t like losing a ticket that another person might have used. What’s the correct strategy to deal with this?
GENTLE READER: Few individuals will argue with a free ticket. And cheap individuals perceive that they can not at all times be your first selection, so long as you might be equitable and clear about it.
If you’re asking one by one, say with out rationalization, “I have a last-minute ticket to a Cloud Rap concert. Please let me know in the next hour if you are available.” After which transfer alongside to the following individual accordingly.
If providing a number of individuals directly, you’ll be able to say, “Dibs go to the person who answers first.”
As for frequent last-minute cancelers? Miss Manners suggests you are taking them off the listing completely.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: When receiving unsolicited recommendation, with no intention of following it, is it preferable to easily reply “thank you” or to share one’s reasoning for dismissing the recommendation?
GENTLE READER: “Thank you” will suffice. Except your intention is to argue, wherein case, by all means allow them to in in your objection.
