38 -- Wednesday, May 13, 1992 - North Shore News Cheap gift an embarassment to best man DEAR MISS MANNERS — Two months ago I was the best man at 2 friend’s wedding. This was quite an honer for me, aad it was my first time. RICHRED Martin MISS "MANNERS At the rehearsal dinner, I was surprised by a gift frem the groom. I dida’t know it was cus- tomary to give presents {o the best man and maid of honor, When I openes it, my face was fushed with erstitude — it was a beautiful Rolex that the groom had bought to maich hisown. My problem is that it is a copy, not a reai Rolex. 1 am doubly embarrassed ——- by my initial reac- _ tion when he gave if to me, and by its being a fake, which cheap- ens our relationship. Do I say anything to him, and if so, what? GENTLE READER — What did you have in mind? “You’re nothing but a cheap copy of a friend’’? And how exactly would you have reacted to this present had you known at the time that it was worth less than you originaliy supposed? Having no interest in brand names, only in human decency, Miss Manners would like to point out to you that your friend gave you a watch, For that, you were obliged io look pleased and to thank him. Apparently this was what you did. Allow Miss Manners to con- gratulate you on your instincts and to leave it at that. If you regret not having .been rude to your friend at his wedding, she would just as soon not liear about it. DEAR MISS MANNERS — My boyfriend and E were out for dinner in a restaurant, and he us- ed a nasai spray while at the table. He tried to be discreet by slump- ing iv his chair and turning his head. Would it not de proper etiquette for him to go and do this in tke washroom? Resides the fact that this is a store-bougitt spray, rot prescrip- tion, he feels that it is a necessity and that therefore he should be able to use it in a public place. GENTLE READER -- Miss Manners doesn’t much care for watching people spray things up their noses, especially at mealtime, and neither, she gathers, do ycu. This should be. sufficient reasoa for the gentleman to refrain from dcing it, even if it were not ob- vious that we are not alone in this prejudice. But she is interested in his Join us, for the Variety Club Dog-a-thon; a family event at which North Shore residents and their canine companions will waik laps around the track at Mahon Park for pledges to raise funds for the Variety Club's special kids! All pets fun categories including largest dog, smallest dog, fluffiest dog, noisiest dog, mosi laps walked, rnost funds raised and automatically qualify for judging in many reasoning, or rather rationalizing. Since when does the fact that a bodily function is necessary mean that it is all right to do it at the dinner table? Think about that one for a minute, since your ap- . petite is gone anyway. DEAR MISS MANNERS — I have a daughter who is just get- ting started in her own catering business. My other daughter lives a very comfortable life with her husband, and ‘they enjoy enter- taining. Tke married daughter is prepar- ing to give a dinner party far 20, including many effluent guests. Should the daughter who is just getting started in catering prepare .and serve the food in her sister’s home? GENTLE READER — Let us talk about the manners that would be required if she did, since it is not Miss Manners’ place to tell grown sisters of their duties to each other, when their parents wisely refrain from doing so. (Still less does Miss Manners want to get into the question of whether the hosiess sister pays. She prefers an equal exchange of services among immediate family members, but is aware of the abuse of relatives expecting pro- fessional services to be abundantly available for free.) The charming way to carry off such a party wouid be for the sister who is hostess to announce proudly that her sister is making the dinner, as if it were a favor to her, rather than a way of showcasing the new caterer’s tal-: ents. You cannot, after all, invite people to dinner with the expecta- tion that they will sign up to buy the services they enjoyed. Both sisters should keep in mind that it is rude to make commercial overtures to guests. Rather, only after the guests begin to exclaim how good the food is should the admission be made that she is now a professional, and it must be in the tone of family news. There should be no attempt whatsoever to suggest that the guests couid hire her. Even en- thusiasm should not be overinter- preted — woliteness requires them Seniors excursion offered NORTH SHORE Neighbour- hocd House (NSNH) is inviting seniors to pre-register ‘for a trip to the Fraser Canyon and Ashcroft which will take place from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 21. Participanis will have an op- portunity to see some of B.C.’s most breathtaking scenery as they travel by deluxe coach VARIETY CLUB along the Coquihalla Highway and Fraser Canyon, say orga- mizers. Lunch, which is not included in the trip fee of $34, will be in Ashcroft. For further information call 987-8138, or visit NSNH at 225 East 2nd St. in North Vancouver. to praise her, even if they hated the meal. At the most, one of. the sisters can write down, upon re- quest only, the caterer’s telephone number so that serious interest can be shown by a ‘usiness call after the social event. Not only is this polite to the guests, who will not feel pressured to patronize the business for their friend’s sister, but it will put subsequent transactions on a businessiike basis. Miss Manners wouldn’t imagine that your daughter wants possible clients to imagine that she goes around cooking dinners as a faver. THE PARENTING RESOURCE CENTRE Childbirth, Newborn Care, Parenting Education Workshops, series, one day seminars and individual instruction offered. For more information and a free brocbure call 922-3470 #5 - 659 Clyde Aerenue West Vancouver, B.C, V7T 1C8 Saturday Nay 0h 192 11:00am - 2:00pm, Mahon Park {1Sth and Jones in North Vancouver) much more. There's even a Fashion Show for pets! Bring your deg in costume! FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! OPEN TO PEOPLE AND PETS OF ALL AGES! SPECTATORS WELCOME! GREAT PRIZES! EVERY CHILD AND ALL PETS WILL TAKE HOME A GOODY BAG! Photo: Jey Metcalfe, Dog-a-thon Honourary Chairman and Jessie and Patch (1992 Variety Club Telethon Mascot) Mail your registration today or : | | REGISTRATION FORM JHE FOX WILL Saturday, May 30tin, 1992 Geliver it to Variety Club booths at BE ON HAND! these North Shore Malts: Home Phone Work Phone LYNN VALLEY CENTRE ON MAY 15 LONSDALE QUAY ON MAY 16 PARK ROYAL ON MAY 22 CAPILANO MALL ON MAY 23 VARIETY CLUB DOG-A-THON Age PLEASE PRINT (% child under 15 years; Dog's Name____ Type of Dag Piease send me pledge forms. (You pledge torma and went Catille wil be maiied wo you) Return to: DOG-A-THON - c/o Variety Ciub of B.C. I ——e | L | 1250 Homer Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 2Y5 | Le ee Name__ Address | SUNDAY « WEONESDAY + FRIpay