European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 24, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Columns when the shoppers get fired up take cover by John Windrow Magazine editor i is downtown the other Day playing push and shove Willi los local shoppers when i ran into 3 Friend of mine. A Luis i said leaping Over .1 baby a Rotler that Riecl to run me Down i should have known i d find you whore i Lisej she said waving her credit cards .11 mi1. Cleo is one of hit shoppers. She d Huy Lvi or Hittne drink it. Shopping is her passion in life Mil Christmas naturally her time of year. Cleo a Respondence or present giving. In any Case not Only is it nol for you to criticize these divisions in someone else s marriage but How do you know that the aunts would t rather do the shopping and writing dear miss manners while i was out to dinner with a group of lady friends conversation turned to plans or a Christmas d inner party at and if Fernl restaurant. In the course of the discussion i mentioned that the menu there was a prix Fine and promptly set the entire table into an uproar. While i know that the expression derives from French and the French pronunciation would by proc of Cox i also know that i have Many limes heard it americanized to prix Webster Only lists the French pronunciation. Is it possible that my lady friends who arc nol exactly worldly Are behind the times and have had a Good laugh at my expense gentle Reader that was nol 0 Giggle you heard from miss manners it was a cough. It s wintertime you know and there seems to be a draft in Here. Miss manners has not actually heard the americanized pronunciation and is trying hard to conceal thai she finds it droll she would like to encourage you to take your friends amusement Good Nat redly and not automatically put them into a category with snobs who think it Tony to throw foreign phrases Inlo their speech or anything but rude to dwell on the supposed mistakes of others. To make up for this she will Arm you with the argument that it is in general More impressive to americanize foreign words than not. Your True snob will for example say Don uan s name with the a sound and Juan in two syllables rather than the Spanish Don wan and after the snickers murmur something about Liml hymn s rhyme depending on that pronunciation. Dear miss manners we have decided not to Exchange Christ Nyu gifts with our relatives this year. We arrived at let decision because firs we live More than 700 Miles from Ihm and arc staying Home for the holidays and second in is financially prohibitive for us which is also a major Factor in our staying Home. When i told my sister of our decision she responded with i d like to Send you Money miss manners i have a growing family at does my sister who is less financially solvent than i. Last year i suggested we Only have our children Exchange gifts. No she responded i d like to get i then went shopping and with great care and thought selected gifts for her and her husband. Her gift to my husband and me was a Check with 3 note saying i could t think of anything to get you. Merry we do nol need such financial contribution nor do i wish to be forced to go through this charade of gift giving year after year which i feel obligated to do since my sister insists on writing i a Check. Her sensitivity leaves much to be desired. My husband s suggestion is to Send her a Check in return in the exact amount of her own. What can i do gentle Reader follow his advice. The Man knows a thing or two whatever aim your sister had to the sentimentality of exchanging presents was negated by the impersonal Way she carried it Oul. The acknowledgement that one cannot enter Inlo someone s tastes and feeling enough to begin to imagine what she might enjoy is not a flattering one miss manners asks that you sweeten the gesture by writing your sister a warm cover letter in which you express your love and ask her to gel something special for herself from you. Tripti Miga int dec Tebei a 1986
