Organ Recital

Dear Short Answers: A lot of my friends seem to be getting to that age when their health starts failing. Which means that talking about every little problem is the main topic of conversation.  I’ve stopped asking “how are you?” because that simply starts a long list of aches and pains.  How do I communicate [...]

Easy Peasy

Dear Short Answers: Two good friends of mine announced their engagement about a month ago. Several other friends told me that they have already received a “save the date” invitation for the wedding but I have not. Should I mention to the couple that I did not receive an invitation?  Perhaps they just assumed that [...]

Don’t Sweat It

Dear Short Answers: When a bride & groom suggest a cash gift for their wedding instead of a traditional present, what is the proper amount to give?  They are co-workers and “good” friends but certainly not “really good” friends.  I don’t want to appear cheap but I can’t afford to be overly generous either. A [...]

Say WHAT????

Dear Short Answers: How do you tell someone who really isn’t a close friend that they are losing their hearing?  And that’s the reason people don’t invite them over for dinner or parties because they constantly ask people to repeat themselves and simply can’t keep up with a fast-paced cocktail conversation.  I want to help [...]

What About a Day Job?

Dear Short Answers: One of my children desperately wants to be an actor and has worked very hard to be a success. But no matter what he does — classes, auditions, networking — he doesn’t get any paying jobs.  Which means that I continue to pay his rent so he doesn’t end up on the [...]

Sick

Dear Short Answers: It seems like I have a lot of friends who are getting serious illnesses these days.  (Maybe it’s because we’re all getting older!)  They post regular updates on Facebook but I never know what to say other than “get well soon” or “sending love in your direction!”  That seems too weak a [...]

Defer, Delay, Deflect

Dear Short Answers: Last summer, two other married couples joined my husband and I on a two week trip to France. It started out well but by the end of the trip none of us were speaking to each other. One of the couples is now suggesting that we do it again next summer in [...]

Writer’s Rule

Dear Short Answers: What is the proper procedure to list  relatives when a 92-year old mother passes away?In my husband’s mother’s obituary, his name as son was listed, then after his name, the name of his first wife (deceased), then my name.  He was DIVORCED from his first wife in 1994 and then, she died 6 [...]

Matter of Life and Death

Dear Short Answers: I am so afraid that my niece is into seriously heavy drugs but my sister (her mother) refuses to listen to me. Is there anything else I should be doing to try to help or do I just need to stay out of this horrible situation? Scared Auntie Dear Scared: We think [...]

Personal Preference

Dear Short Answers: Is a square a rectangle? Prepping for School Dear Prep: Yes, it is a favorite of ours. Like Unlike

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