European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 15, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                So teen agers flaunt Price tags what else is there left to do _ Erma Bombeck Universal press Syndicate the hottest new fashion trend among Young people is letting the Price tags Dangle from their baseball Caps shoes or jackets. I have no idea what kind of a statement they re making but my grandmother was years ahead of her time. There was a Rumor she left the Price tags on because she was going to return the stuff the next Day. Those who knew her better leaned toward the theory she was making a a financial  the kids who haunt Price tags say it is not done to show How much they paid for something hut rather for a adornment and visual  get outta Here. I think kids look like they dress in a dark closet to distance themselves from adults. How do these trends get a life easy. One Day a Mother says Quot Leroy 1 want you to tie your shoelaces. You re going to trip Over them and kill  the next Day Leroy appears without shoelaces and by the weeks end every teen in America has shoes flapping on his feet. Its a trend. Or Monica puts a to shirt on wrong Side out one morning and her Mother admonishes Quot Monica for heaven s Sake your shirt is on inside out.  laugh you out of the eighth  within hours boutiques Are Selling to shirts wrong Side out at $46 a pop in 18 colors. There is a Way to Stop the madness. A couple of years ago when both Knees in Raymond a jeans got ripped in the Washer his Mother forbade him to leave the House wearing them. Predictably he wore them and an entire nation of kids started to Wear jeans you  dust the piano with. Then one night Cher appeared in concert with among other things her Knees hanging out. The kids wavered because an adult was wearing their style but they rationalized that Cher Wasny to really an adult. What we need for this trend to die a natural death is for Charlton Heston to appear on 7/ie tonight show wearing jeans with his Knees hanging out. To be fair Young people have a Lough time establishing the ii own individual fashion signature. It seems like every time they stake out an innovative trend adults trespass. When daughters hike up their hemlines so do their mothers. If they frizz their hair so do their grandmothers. If boys fringe their shorts and let their underwear hang out their fathers do the same thing. I saw a woman on a soap the other Day wearing a giant hair ribbon on her silly something dyed hair. There goes another style shot Down. All that is left for hip teen agers to do is to let the Price tags Hap on their clothes or leave plastic Security tags on their garments for Quot adornment and visual  m \ mks Judith Martin United feature Syndicate dear miss manners i am 80 years old and my Girlfriend is 92. We dance three nights a week we travel 80 Miles on wednesdays and we both have the same amount of Money. Should i have to pay for All expenses drinks admission fees and car there is no marriage. Gentle Reader. Nor is there a meeting of the minds miss manners gathers. Friends a of whatever age gender or income a Are supposed to reciprocate but not necessarily in the same Way. Is the lady in question having you to dinner knitting sweaters for you and sharing the products from her Garden if so she is reciprocating. If not you might gently ask her if she would like to invite you out once in a while. Dear miss manners after More than 10 years away from the charming social custom of dating. 1 have returned to it because my marriage has ended. Things have changed radically for me and for the rules of this social engagement. My companion for the evening and i were having dinner at her Home when a phone Call interrupted us while she was on the phone her former Lover unexpectedly arrived. She let him in and returned to her caller obviously to avoid a potentially explosive situation. 1 gamely tried to talk with him despite his Clear animosity toward me. He asked me about our plans for the evening. Unable to think of an effective evasion i answered truthfully. Telling him it was none of his business seemed unwise since he is a police officer and was carrying his gun. How could i have effectively demonstrated my displeasure at his interruption and interrogation must the guest always take a passive role even when the Host fails to take the proper action i m sure i am not alone in having faced this situation considering the turbulence of romantic relationships today. Gentle Reader miss manners rather Hopes you Are. She would prefer to think of the police As being available to protect citizens who arc being menaced by gun carrying rejected suitors rather than engaging in the practice themselves. In any Case the etiquette problem was not Vours. When a hostess fails to Deal with matters a my yours erred both in deserting you for the Telephone and in leaving you to Deal with her visitor a the guest is allowed to pass. Your answer to everything could have been a a in a just a guest Here myself. Why done to you ask Tiffany dear miss manners my wife s brother and his wife both doctors usually stay at my wife a Sisters Home when visiting our town. My wife claims that we can to invite Only the visiting couple for meals without inviting the entire household. Isnit there some proper Protection against a Home full of in Laws gentle Reader Bachelor Hood. This idea May be too late for you hut it is the Only absolute provision against having in Laws whatever their class or education. Your Only other Hope is to have your wife suggest to her sister that it might be a convenience for her family if you feed their visitors just to give the hosts some time to themselves during the visit. Dear miss manners i am planning to have a slumber party on my 12th birthday with a Bunch of friends who Are Nice and who have also invited me to their parties. 1 done to know if everyone will get along. Please help me. Gentle Reader you May be relieved to hear that the responsibility is not All yours. Miss manners trusts that you will do your Best to give each of your guests a pleasant time making especially sure that no one is left out. But your guests arc obliged to be pleasant to one another regardless of any feelings to the contrary. As your friends Are Nice and know what it is to give parties themselves miss manners trusts that you have nothing to worry  Oigt i s a Virgo aug. 23-sept. 22 work on getting and of bad habits frustrations at Home Are easing now is the time to Compromise Libra sept. 23-oct. 22 Don t be afraid to be your eccentric self. It can work in your favor explore opportunities in the Media Scorpio oct. 23-nov. 21 break through those boundaries at work that Block your Progress. More respect is coming to you Sagittarius nov 22-dec. 20 put As much Faith in yourself As you do in others. Success can be yours if you believe in yourself Capricorn dec. 21-Jan 19. Gel involved m something that requires sell disciple to help you get in touch with yourself your Confidence projects sex Appeal aquarius Jan 20-feb 18. Debating with your partner can be a Challenge but the mental stimulation will add Sparks to the relationship Pisces feb 19-March 20 Don t let worries at work make you sick you do a better Job than you realize others appreciate your efforts Aries March 21-april 19 spend time with children. They la bring out your playful Side. Show gratitude to people you sometimes take for granted. Taurus april 20-May 20 use your Home As a Refuge from the world. Enjoy some private time with a special person. Gemini May 21-june 20 your mind is reeling with ideas. Give it a break by cuddling with your mate while enjoying your favorite show. Cancer june 21-july 22 bored with your apparel7 discard what you Don t Wear then find a Sale and buy new clothes or accessories. Leo july 23-aug. 22 attend social events your gregarious nature can t help but make an Impact you la be the life of the party. Copley news service a sunday september 15, 1991