ArcaMax

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have an unusual first name. When I am introduced to a new acquaintance, often they will make a comment. When the comment is, "What a pretty name!" or "How lovely!" it is easy to respond with, "Thank you."

But when the comment is, "Oh that's different," how does one respond? "Yes" seems a bit weak.

GENTLE READER: Well, it's...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: In my senior year of high school, I got pregnant, and back in those times, I was not allowed to graduate. I married my child's father and raised two children with him. We were divorced many years later, mostly because we had not finished growing up when we married.

I did go on to attend classes at a local community college, ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A friend told me he had been contacted by his former college roommate. Clyde and Stan are in their 60s and live in different states. They have remained good friends since college, and see each other sporadically at informal reunions of their large group of common college friends.

Stan's daughter is getting married and he is ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I hosted a brunch gathering of about 10 people at our home. We offered a wide spread of food and drinks, and we used paper plates and napkins to make cleaning up a little easier -- and also because I'm in my third trimester and frankly, the idea of cleaning that many dishes had me feeling exhausted.

It was a ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How should one respond when an acquaintance asks, "Have I done something to offend you?"

I have a neighbor with whom I've tried to be friendly. Over the course of a few months, she's made unpleasant remarks, overstepped invitations to my home and insistently passed on information that I knew to be false.

For example, I had ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: On the 4th of July every year, my dear friends have a three- to four-day get-together, where families come and camp out on their property. We cook out, we all play sports and board games, we sit around the campfire and, for the grand finale, we have a huge fireworks show.

I noticed the year prior that not everyone pitched in ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My dear mother told me that one should never clap for the speakers at Memorial Day observances, and that one should depart in silence to mark the solemnity of the occasion. At a Memorial Day event, I noticed that everyone clapped for the speakers and chatted casually at the end of the event.

Was my dear mother mistaken?

...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A sibling has disclosed that they and their spouse have been nudists for years, and intend to retire and move to a clothing-optional community.

I have no objection to their lifestyle choice if it makes them happy, but I have no desire to partake of said lifestyle.

How does one respond to an invitation to visit in those ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was delighted to be invited to a baby shower for my daughter, hosted by two of her friends. I thanked them for their generosity and asked if I could bring anything. I also asked if they would like photos of my daughter as a baby. They said yes to the photos, so I sent five pictures (no naked or embarrassing ones) and thought...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I live on a private lane of just five houses, each with large surrounding fields. After mowing my (perfectly dry) field, I went over to my neighbors' to perform a courtesy mow of theirs, as they both work full-time.

On the second turn, my full-size tractor sank deep into the mud, and any attempt at freeing it merely dug it in...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A dear friend and I live several hours away from each other, so to keep in touch, we speak often on the telephone. He works part-time, so he usually calls me on his off days when his wife is home. This is the problem.

If she happens to be nearby when we are speaking, she will frequently interrupt to either ask him what we are...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I acknowledge that a person should not be hosting their own birthday parties. However, if I had to wait until I could afford to take everyone out to dinner to invite them out for a good time, we'd never go.

Dining out has become outrageously expensive. I rarely go with even just my family. Expecting one person to pay for ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Back in February, I inquired about a job opening for the summer. I was invited to have an interview with my potential employer, whereupon we had a great conversation and he expressed interest in hiring me.

However, his season began before I was finished with college. He suggested that I keep in touch and that he would get ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Years ago, a close friend of mine was getting married. As I am known as a good baker among my friends, she asked if I would bake her a carrot cake for her wedding. I demurred, explaining that I was not qualified to bake a wedding cake. She insisted, saying it would be a small wedding with perhaps 20 guests.

Instead, the ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was a single mom in my 40s with a preteen child. After eight years of not dating, I met a man through my CB radio community whom I took a good liking to.

We spent eight months getting to know each other and he never hinted that he was homeless, nor that he had learning disabilities. He lived across the country and never ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Six of us were at dinner in a nice restaurant. At a nearby table for two sat a man and a woman, who appeared to be grownups, rather than teenagers in their first relationships.

During this couple's nice dinner out, their mutual attraction apparently got the better of them. The man had his hand COMPLETELY up the woman's skirt ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: A neighbor of ours would repeatedly ask my wife and me to watch his house, feed his fish and water his plants (inside and outside) when he was away. And the requests keep getting bigger: collect his mail, watch out for a UPS package, water his tomatoes.

In the latest episode, he stated that he would give us the keys at 7:30 ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Help! The summer concert season will soon be here in full force, and many musical groups have outdoor performances planned. At many such events in the past, people seated near me have talked throughout the concert. Do they really think that I enjoy hearing them talk through the musical numbers?

Once, a group of six people ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My fiance and I were spending time with an old, close, female friend of his. He noticed she was cold and offered his jacket to her. She wore his jacket for the rest of the evening.

He's a kind, faithful man who always looks out for others, and I know his intentions were noble; he truly just wanted to help his friend when he ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am sufficiently old-school that I will sometimes answer a phone call from an unfamiliar number for which no caller ID is displayed, rather than letting it go to voicemail.

If I say hello, and the caller asks to speak to (name), is it rude of me to reply by asking, "Who is calling, please?" Also, does it matter whether the ...Read more