DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband and I like to prepare dinner. We frequently host small dinner events for as much as eight individuals, which is the max that our small eating room can comfortably maintain.
Now, it has occurred previously that one or two visitors have needed to cancel on the day of, when now we have already ready a lot of the meals and set the desk. Would it not be acceptable at that time to succeed in out to household or mates and lengthen a last-minute dinner invitation? And the way would you phrase that?
I’m wondering this as a result of I come from a tradition wherein impromptu dinner invitations don’t increase an eyebrow, however the place I reside now, dinner events appear to be extra formal affairs.
I fear whether or not my last-minute visitors would really feel like second-class ones — which I positively don’t need them to! I’m simply comfortable to share my cooking, and in these circumstances, I occur to have some free spots up for the taking.
GENTLE READER: Such invites ought to be handled like items of hand-me-down garments: solely to be provided to your most intimate mates and kinfolk — these you realize won’t be offended if you inform them, truthfully, that they’re doing you a favor to fill in.
And since we’re being frank, the honesty that Miss Manners intends you to observe is to elucidate why the invitation is coming so late, not that they are going to be seated subsequent to your neighbor’s husband, who’s a crashing boor.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I began a brand new job as a psychological well being technician, and one of many therapists I work with all the time has a cloud of fragrance round her. It’s so unhealthy that each time she walks into the identical room as me, her fragrance triggers my bronchial asthma and I’ve to go away the room.
If I’ve a extreme bronchial asthma assault, I can — and do — have seizures afterward. Fortunately, I’ve had my rescue inhaler on me and have used it each time. Nonetheless, these assaults depart me feeling weak and off-balance.
I’d simply keep away from this girl, however I’m purported to replace her on what I’ve noticed with the sufferers. Additionally, I can’t keep away from her as a result of I can not see her: I’ve severely low imaginative and prescient, and can’t see that she is close by till I odor her fragrance.
Is there something I can do about this? Is there a well mannered option to inform her that her fragrance is just too sturdy and ask her to tone it down?
GENTLE READER: Subsequent time you might be discussing sufferers, point out apologetically that a couple of has informed you that her fragrance causes them to have allergic reactions. This may make it a query of affected person care — and never of her doubtlessly placing you within the hospital.
Miss Manners understands that this system won’t assist individuals who shouldn’t have sufferers, prospects or different harmless individuals to “goal” on this means. However the fundamental thought is to shift the blame from the fragrance to the response. If meaning seeming to feel sorry about one’s personal allergy, then that’s unfair, sure — however it does clear up the issue.
Please ship your inquiries to Miss Manners at her web site, www.missmanners.com; to her electronic mail, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or by postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas Metropolis, MO 64106.
