European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Odds amp ends travelling with kids is a hard Way to go we have just returned from a Short autumn vacation which would have been perfect in every respect except for two things 1 we had to bring a child along and 2 we had to bring a child along. I fast our two daughters separately Here because although they Are both human children we think one is 2 years old and the other is 11 years old. This poses a number of unique problems not the least of which is the fact that the younger girl is the laughingstock of her play group because she has to Wear hand me Down Belt Bottoms with peace signs on them. When vacation time Rolls around though having children who appear to have gotten dressed during different presidential administrations becomes unimportant and we immediately focus on a bigger generational problem How to vacation with children of completely different species. Our older daughter is at the stage where she is bored by everything in Europe except Madonna a concert schedule. She reacts to every tourist attraction with the enthusiasm of a 90-year-old tourist guide. What does no to bore her of course grosses her a completely out things that currently fit that description include anything More than 200 years old sharing a hotel bathroom and Continental breakfasts. Unfortunately the older child Slack of enthusiasm is matched by the 2-year-old�?Ts curiosity. She wants to know what a going on in the restaurant Kitchen and Why you can to Stop to potty during a traffic Jam on the autobahn. She can always be counted on to appear sem nude in a Fountain after a frantic search of the Castle grounds. My husband and i have discussed the possibility of hiring travelling companions so we can relax and enjoy ourselves on our next vacation. We re looking for people who can listen to a child repeat the word a with accompanying hysterical laughter 50 times in a Row. People who Are immune to the sight of a toddler eating pea soup with her fingers. Folks who done to mind taking the kids off our hands for 10 or 15 hours so that we can do something exciting like hang gliding or eating in a restaurant where a Clown does no to Greet us at the door. You know the kind of people grandparents. Unfortunately the folks who match that description happen to be on vacation themselves right now and somehow forgot to leave a number where we can reach them. A we have is a cryptic note saying a a we be paid our dues. Now its your turn. A a of a and a . A have a great gemany811156� 8 member living in Schweinfurt miss manners Judith Martin United features ear miss manners a my daughter and her husband were divorced. Because her sex husband was not wholly admirable she resumed the use of her Maiden name. Then she died leaving two Small children. The sex husband has not been heard from for More than a year. Some family members think the Tombstone should have the former husbands name on it. In a against this but what if some Day the children feel bad because their fathers surname is not on their Mother s grave gentle Reader a miss manners would like to remind your relatives that respecting the wishes of the dead clearly takes precedence Over guessing the possible future wishes of the living. You have no Way of knowing what the children May think of your daughters Choice of name but you know for sure that it was your daughters Choice. Dear miss manners a a Young Man i have known since he was in Grade school is getting married. He and his Fiancee train a certain Breed of animal As a Hobby. On a recent out of state vacation i was thrilled to find a Lovely and expensive antique ashtray embellished with this Breed. When i phoned the grooms Mother to verify their address and told her about this gift she informed me that since the couple does no to smoke and does no to allow anyone else to smoke in their House it would be sold at a Yard Sale that they will soon give to get rid of wedding gifts they done to for the week of nov. 18 Sagittarius nov. 22-dec. 20 Don t get drenched in emotional downpour. Team sports help vent frustration with the Cosmos. Your words can heal or or injure. You decide. Capricorn dec. 21-Jan. 19 sitting on the Fence is for the Birds. Be a go getter through written word or Public forum. Turn on Charm with business associates. Aquarius Jan. 20-feb. 18 Brash acts Lead to disaster. Done to try to play Superman when you re really a mild mannered Clark Kent. Reorganize your finances. Watch Holiday shopping spree. Pisces feb. 19-March 20 turn your closets and files inside out. Be meticulous while shopping for values. Reduce family tensions with an open heart and mind. Leave debating to politicians. Aries March 21-april 19 get a Birds Eye View of the month ahead. Stop thinking about the nitty Gritty. Develop a global perspective maintain a Loving heart to friends. Taurus april 20-May 20 walk away from risky investments. Accent old fashioned values. Balance intellect and intuition for More understanding. Enhance your musical abilities. Gemini May 21-june 20 accomplish tasks with gusto. Don t let social conflicts interfere with i no longer have the name or address of the antique shop and can to return the gift. Do i now buy them something else that meets with the mothers approval or do i go ahead and Send my $35 ashtray knowing it will be sold at a Yard Sale for 35 cents or do i Send the card to the couple and explain that i bought them a Nice wedding gift which his Mother did no to like without even Schinz it b gentle Reader a miss manners does no to like these people. Not Only is the Mother startlingly rude in denigrating a thoughtful present intended for her son but the couple does no to sound agreeable either. Why Are they planning in Advance a Yard Sale that would advertise their rejection of wedding presents however that should not discourage you from being polite. Well a miss manners understands you can to help being discouraged let it not Stop you. Send the present along with a note explaining How delighted you had been to find their animal on the dish and saying that although they done to smoke you Hope they can use it As a nut dish. Refrain from adding that in that Case they could feed his Mother from it dear miss manners a our nieces wedding is to be a Black tie affair. Is it mandatory for the Man to Wear a Tux would dark suits be a breach of etiquette for the men who hate tuxes. Gentle Reader a etiquette makes allowances for hardship if for example your husband could not afford evening clothes no decent person would condemn him for dressing As Best he could. But to a hate tuxes is not considered a legitimate hardship. Not by miss manners at any rate and not by people who expect others to consider their weddings Worth dressing up for. Peace of mind. Be your own Boss. Jump off the romantic merry go round for some fresh air. Cancer june 21-july 22 turn your Back on trivial pursuits. Study professional ideas catapult your mind to new Heights. Keep romantic fires under control. Leo july 23-aug. 22 get Back in shape with your favorite sport. Philosophical debates Are Back in the spotlight speak your mind with authority. Virgo aug. 23-sept. 22 be More conscious of your thoughts. Leave trivial concerns behind. Try your hand at poetry or painting. Psychic sensitivity is magnified contain cautious urges. Libra sept. 23-oct, 22 go on the professional Warpath. But Don t bring work tribulations Home to Roost. Sign key contracts. Romantic fever soars. Scorpio oct. 23-nov. 21 family affairs receive top Billing. Be a master of efficiency and reorganize your living space. Plunge into a favorite Hobby. Call old buddies. Copley news service november 18,1990 sunday in plus c Page 19
