DEAR MISS MANNERS: If we renewed the stunning style of sporting gloves, folks wouldn’t should concern catching germs from shaking palms or showing impolite for refusing.
GENTLE READER: Why didn’t Miss Manners consider that?
Not solely would it not clear up the issues you point out, however it could enable her to wallow in a treasure trove of forgotten customs.
And as a bonus, it would alert these concerned in performs and exhibits set prior to now to make use of interval costumes correctly, which they virtually by no means do. Even in lavish films and tv sequence, the supposedly refined characters eat and drink whereas sporting gloves, which is — ewww!
Eradicating gloves earlier than consuming is a strict rule. However when you have a glass or a canape or a fork in your palms, that’s an apparent and well mannered excuse for not shaking palms. Simply follow the regretful smile that ought to accompany the refusal.
Apart from protecting gloves worn for duties like waxing your automotive or dyeing your hair — throughout which, presumably, you don’t socialize — gloves at the moment are mainly worn for heat. Greeting somebody open air within the chilly shouldn’t due to this fact be an issue.
However gloves have been as soon as a routine a part of a correct outfit worn exterior of 1’s dwelling, whatever the climate: cotton gloves for spring and summer time, positive leather-based for formal events, and heavier leather-based or wool for fall and winter. Oh, and slippery ones for striptease acts.
P.S. It’s true that gents — however not girls — have been imagined to take away their gloves when shaking palms. However Miss Manners is hereby suspending that rule.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: An aged good friend died final yr after a protracted decline. I used to be very keen on her, as she was of me, and I visited her frequently after she moved from her dwelling to the care facility the place she died.
I lately obtained a small financial bequest. My good friend’s executor is the eldest of her three youngsters.
Ought to I write a thank-you be aware for this bequest, and if that’s the case, to whom ought to it’s addressed?
Clearly I can’t write to my deceased good friend, although I do consider her gratefully virtually each day for her love and lots of kindnesses. But I don’t suppose a lot of the youngsters — they uncared for my good friend and left her lonely for a lot of of her closing months — and am not eager to offer them credit score by thanking them for a bequest that was A. not of their generosity, and B. dealt with totally by attorneys.
If I ought to ship a thank-you be aware, do I tackle it solely to the executor or to all three?
GENTLE READER: You do your late good friend no honor by snubbing her youngsters, a minimum of certainly one of whom she trusted sufficient to call as her executor. Miss Manners hopes that you’ll specific your condolences to the youngsters. Nonetheless difficult the relationships, they did lose their mom.
However no, you needn’t thank the household for the bequest, which was none of their doing. Any acknowledgment to the executor can be in that baby’s capability as your good friend’s chosen consultant.
Please ship your inquiries to Miss Manners at her web site, www.missmanners.com; to her e-mail, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or by means of postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas Metropolis, MO 64106.
