No do overs

Dear Short Answers: I recently had to fire someone and now I’m having nightmares about it. I feel terrible. Maybe this is a sign that it wasn’t the right thing to do. Do you think I should reach out and hire the person back? Sleepless Dear Sleepless: Being an adult means accepting the consequences of [...]

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

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 [...]

Old game/New Rules

Dear Short Answers: I have a very young friend at work who has started to get very affection toward me — like putting his hand on my leg during a meeting or giving me a hug when we say hello or goodbye.  I am 52 and he is probably in his late 20s.  I can’t [...]

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 [...]

Game Changers

Dear Short Answers: My niece just had a baby.  No one called me — I found out on Facebook.  I am sick of being an internet gift service. Do I have to send yet another unappreciated offering? Distant Auntie Dear Auntie: No. It is better to risk their anger than assure yours. Like Unlike

Timing Is Everything

Dear Short Answers: A woman who works for me recently resigned in order to take a better paying job at another company. My staff is organizing a going away party for her and they expect me to pay for it (or, at least, pay for most of it). Obviously, I wish her well, but I [...]

The Nose Knows

Dear Short Answers: I work in an office with a lot of people in their early 20s. It’s great to be around such energy and enthusiasm but I do have one complaint. They all (especially the men) smell like they never wash their clothes. Didn’t their mothers teach them how to do laundry? Or is [...]

Checks and Balances

Dear Short Answers: I had a relationship with a very abusive, lying cheating man that ended about 3 years ago when I simply refused to see him anymore. He completely disappeared form my life until I got an email from him last week. He says that he is sober and has a job and wants [...]

Older and Wiser

Dear Short Answers: A good friend, who is not a professional singer but has a very nice voice, agreed to sing at my birthday party last week. I told her how happy I was and that she should consider this a sufficient birthday present and I asked her not to get me anything else. Well, [...]

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