36 ~- Sunday, April 5, 1987 - North Shore News Lifestyles LIMO FOR WEDDING Declining offer ‘ridiculous’ DEAR MISS MANNERS — When 2 very special friend asked me if I would be an usher at her wedding, I was honored and accepted without hesitation. I don't own a car, but am employed by a major transporta- tion company, so when special oc- casions arise, I am able to use my company’s services at a substantial discount. I informed her that I and my invited guest would use a lim- ousine to get (o and from the wed- ding. She had no objections and Gevlined my offer to provide her and her fiance with a limousine of their own. miss manners by Judith Martin _ GRRE A week later,-the fiance called and asked that I-use his pickup truck'as transportation rather than the Hmousine, whica, he | said, would make him ‘‘feei funny.’’ He also said his family and friends are very - conservative ‘and would disapprove of one of the ushers us- ing a limousine when the bride and groom had declined such transpor- tation. I have agreed to bis request, as I don’t wish to spoil a very special day for a very special friend, but I can’t help feeling that his request, and the reasons for making it, are quite insulting. His request is tantamount to my inviting him to a special dinner party but asking him to wear one of my suits because I had no trust in his taste and was afraid his at- tire would offend my other guests. it also interferes with plans I had made to take the limousine in- to the city for the evening after the reception. He wants me to take my guest in his truck to his home and pick up the limousine there. That way; there would be no chance of any of his guests seeing it. Do you consider his request Proper? The wedding is only semiformal, but I had no inten- tions of showing off. In my business, limousines are a common means of transportation, and 1! honestly thought that in light of the occasion, it would be perfectly acceptable. _ GENTLE READER — The re- quest is certainly outrageous, but Miss Manners would classify it as ridiculous rather than insulting. The bridegroom and his family are victims of the high-powered wedding industry’s campaign to classify certain expensive artifacts as necessary to, and therefore ex- clusively to -be used by bridal cou- ples. . This has nothing. whatsoever to - APRIL SILVER. PLATING SPECIAL SAVE 20% Have your precious antiques reconditioned Ff MO tae > robe esate ° Resilvering, gold plating, rhodium plating. ““e Brass, nickel and copper ~ plating. ® Repairing of all silver, brass and copper. @ Cleaning and polishing of sterling silver, silver plate, brass, copper and _. pewter. ; “© Retinning of copper pots. a Bronzing iad shoes. | Foi Bishop Josnollors Tito. 198 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, B.C. ALL: WORK DONE BY ACME “(awe & SILVER SHOP LTD, 988-4717 do with proper manners. If the bridegroom’s family were truly conservative, they wouldn’t even be able to state the problem, because they would call that long black vehicle a ‘‘car” (rather than the commercial term you use in your business) and thus be unable to explain why some people should have one kind of car at a wedding and others different kinds.’ As a= practical measure, the - larger car is convenient for the ladies of the bridal party with their long dresses. But as you kindly of- fered to get one for them, this cannot have been their concern. They are worried that your car will look fancier or more bridal than theirs. Pitiful as this way of thinking is, it is troublesome to people you care about, and therefore Miss Manners heartily applauds you for not making an issue of it to them. It’s our way Of saying that we're as fresh and new as the day we first opened - our doors. In fact, we've brought in some particularly exciting pieces and priced literally hundreds of items at considerably less than” usual e Upholstered pieces @ Occasional chairs ° Fine case goods « Lamps, |: accessories. Join the big celebration. It begins bright and early, when we open our doors today. Support The April Cancer Campaign. GIVE GENEROUSL WHEN CANVASSERS CALL RENTHSH COtUMMBIA ANE HURON DIVO Bon 8000 Sin.D, Vanc., V6) 49, Register fo for the $1 1000. _ Grand Prize. Drawing . You could be the winner of $1000 in merchandise of your. choice. Enter now. No purchase required. Drawing will be held April 30." ; This Week: is the: 1st Anniversary ofour Grand Opening and we! re GALLERY _ 4240 MANOR ST., BURNABY, B.C. (% block West of Sheraton Villa Inn) HOUR. Monday to Saturday 9 to 5 >. m. «Friday 9to9 p.m. « Sunday Noon to 5 pm.