An Understanding

Dear Short Answers: What is friendship? Joey Dear Joey: We love all our friends and each relationship is different, but in each case, there is a mutuality of respect, trust and expectations. Like Unlike

Private Event

Dear Short Answers: My best friend is expecting a baby in the fall and she seems like the least excited expectant mother I have ever met.  She hardly ever talks about it – even though I always ask.  She talks about her job, her search for a new house and her vacation – but says [...]

Have Good Luck — Learn Chinese!

Dear Short Answers: I  think that people at work are laughing at me behind my back but I can’t figure out why. How do I find out what’s going on? Butt of Joke Dear BOJ: Either a) You are paranoid and they ARE NOT laughing at you or b) They ARE laughing at you but [...]

Spare Yourself

Dear Short Answers: When people say “stop me if you’ve heard this before,” is it really okay to stop them? Its’ a 3peat Dear 3peat: Yes its okay.  Just smile when you say “rerun.” Like Unlike

Never Mix, Never Worry

Dear Short Answers: What is the etiquette for inviting a divorced couple (along with their new significant others) to a dinner party?  I like them both and would love to meet their new partners but I’m not sure how to handle this.  I don’t want to ruin a good party if they start arguing or [...]

You Know What You Know

Dear Short Answers: I recently divulged a secret to a very good friend and swore him to secrecy.  I later found out the he had told another person.  Do I confront him with this?  Or do I keep quiet and learn my lesson? SPD Dear SPD: What possible good could come from a confrontation? Denial? [...]

May I Help You?

Dear Short Answers: My neighbor is elderly and becoming frail. We are friends and I would like to help her with her garden this year. How do I offer without offending her? Younger in Springtime Dear Younger: Keep it light. No need for lengthy explanations. Drop by on a nice day and say “put me [...]

This One Is Easy!

Dear Short Answers: A group of us from my office have been going out to a karaoke bar about once or twice a month for about a year. We all sing maybe one or two songs and just have a good time. The problem is that one of the girls has decided that she is [...]

Never Too Late

Dear Short Answers: I just heard that an old friend and colleague passed away several years ago. Is it too late to send a card to his wife or do you think she would rather not be reminded? Sarah Dear Sarah: We can safely assure you that the death of a spouse is not ever [...]

Membership Has Its Privileges

Dear Short Answers: I have a good friend who, on “moral” grounds, refuses to get on Facebook. He thinks that it is a horrible invasion of privacy. I guess I understand. But to me, that’s a little like refusing to get a telephone. The problem is that he is constantly asking me for updates on [...]

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