Civilized Life: Miss Manners

Civilized Living DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am not you can stash away, as you will probably good at winding spaghetti on a fork. Is be asked about its effect. Nor, heaven it gauche to discreetly cut it with a fork forbid, should you regift it. You will when eating it? have to tell your friend that while you By Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin GENTLE READER: How discreetly? Cutting spaghetti can lead to other problems, like wandering pieces of different lengths that stick out and don’t quite appreciate her concern, you are getting professional medical care and will not be supplementing this by seeking outside treatments. adhere to the fork. Instead, Miss Manners DEAR MISS MANNERS: I received DEAR MISS MANNERS: We clean, but formerly used, cloth suggests that you use this time of minimal a postcard invitation to a “Mail Baby bought a tabletop patio heater for a diaper. And I didn’t even get my socialization to practice winding small Shower” while all of us are in this friend. Should we assemble it before own cloth diaper— I had to share amounts at a time. pandemic. I’m trying to think it

we give it to them, or leave it in the one with my son (also 10)! DEAR MISS MANNERS: How do I through whether or not this is tacky.

box? It’s fine if she wants to save paper, politely return a very thoughtful, wellGENTLE READER: Not quite as tacky GENTLE READER: The latter. It is and fine if she wants to use these intentioned gift? as it would have been last year. much harder to return the assembled version if you find that your friend prefers the tabletop cold. DEAR MISS MANNERS: What for napkins when company is not present — but even for an informal meal such as this, was her choice of napkins inappropriate? I have had some ophthalmic surgeries and other procedures, which thankfully seem to be helping restore my vision at this time. A very thoughtful, caring Miss Manners appreciates that it may not be possible now to hold such an event as an in-person gathering. But stripping it of any socializing, so that do I say to my son, who didn’t My mother has bought them lovely friend gave me a gift certificate for an it is nothing more than a solicitation acknowledge my birthday? Mind you, cloth napkins in the past, but they acupuncture treatment that she believes for presents, is crude. The hosts should I walk his dog every day! never get used. would help with my recovery. think of some virtual way to show that GENTLE READER: Attach a balloon to the dog with a note that reads, I really didn’t want to wipe my mouth with a cloth diaper. What How can I gently tell her that there is no way I would allow any more needles to be they value contact with their guests, or it will still be tacky. “Wish your mother a happy birthday.” should my appropriate response have applied to me unless my M.D. was doing DEAR MISS MANNERS: A friend’s DEAR MISS MANNERS: Last week, I visited my brother and his wife. They have two boys, aged 10 and 13. They kindly bought everyone been? And how can I avoid this in the future? GENTLE READER: Bring your sister-in-law a hostess present: more the procedure? GENTLE READER: Ah, not so thoughtful. Prescribing medical treatment without permission, let alone without a license, daughter’s wedding was canceled because of the coronavirus, and it has now been rescheduled to be a Zoom ceremony. dinner — pizza and wings, nothing napkins. “I noticed that you ran out is not Miss Manners’ idea of a wellWhat type of gift is required for a formal or fancy. Just a nice little of napkins last time, so I thought intentioned present. If your friend were ill, Zoom wedding? Should I spend the family get-together with the kids. you might like these.” Miss Manners would you give her a bottle of medicine for same amount of money that I would My sister-in-law, instead of providing us all with paper napkins, gave everyone either a washcloth or a suggests that you then quickly distribute them before your hostess has the chance to protest. her birthday? But yes, you should be polite about it. Unfortunately, it is not the sort of present have on a gift for a formal, in-person wedding? GENTLE READER: What do you suppose determines the

Paid for by Dean Takko for State Senate Committee P.O. Box 1025 Longview, WA 98632 I will be proud to continue representing you. cont page 30 amount of money to be spent on a wedding present? Miss Manners fears that you may be the victim of that vulgar notion that the amount spent must equal the cost of entertaining the guest: To the lavish, much shall be given. Nonsense. Spend the amount it costs to buy Coming in for a landing on the Capitol grounds. Gotta speak with Senator

WTakko.

S ashington tate senate Dean Takko 19 th District DEMOCRAT