European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 13, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Miss m in Kos dear miss manners while i was working late i was violently attacked by a robber who broke into the computer room of the school where i teach. I was severely injured a he had a knife a and so traumatized by the experience that i wont return to teaching for several months. In order not to frighten the students and also to spare me the pain of discussing the incident we Nave not made Public what happened. The school simply said that i was ill. I am now faced with two types of Nosy questions a those from people no want to know what is wrong and those from people who know about the incident and want details. My lower arms Are scarred from the knife attack and some of the scars Are too deep for the plastic surgery i have scheduled. People who see them have no qualms about asking a where did these come from a or a what happened to you a i done to want to Wear Long sleeves for the rest of my life. But the experience was so terrifying that i done to want to have to relive it by talking about it to people i May hardly know. I want to get on with my life. Can you suggest a polite Way to avoid these inquiries some of those who ask questions Are people i have to continue to get along with such As a senior colleagues wife and students i will teach and my colleagues. I done to want to be rude or appear to reject genuine sympathy but i really cannot Bear to talk to All those people about what happened. Gentle Reader with All the sympathy in the world and Complete support for you in your desire not to discuss this event miss manners has to take exception to the Way this tragedy was handled. It is True that there is a great Deal of cosiness going around nowadays. But by putting out an obviously unbelievable explanation the school has left both your Well wishers and those who might be worried about their own Security feeling that they need to find out what happened because there might be something that they can do for your Comfort or their Protection. It would be far better if a representative of the school admitted that a robbery had taken place but that you Are fortunately recovering and measures have been taken miss manners trusts to see that such a thing cannot happen again. That person might add that you do not wish to discuss it. At any rate when anyone makes inquiries of you you must say kindly and firmly a i very much appreciate your concern but i prefer not to talk about should anyone be so rude As to Badger you with that popular sanctimonious argument a a it a not healthy to keep this to yourself a you a feel better if you talked about it a you must repeat your statement even More firmly. Dear miss manners when i was a technical consultant i was always Happy to offer free advice to family or friends making it Clear that it was a off the cuff and did not take advantage of All the firms resources that i could enlist for a paying client. My new business involves wholesale chocolate products. I would like to offer a Courtesy Price to family and friends but what is an appropriate discount ten percent wholesale Price my Cost should i Dodge the Sale and Send them to a retailer promotion of a new product is Good business and surely my friends would Tell their friends. But my business is Brand new my promotional allowance is limited and i can give away free Only a very Small amount. I done to want to be a Scrooge but i done to want to be a sap either. Gentle Reader free chocolates where miss manners did no to mean to get Over excited but it is not a pretty reaction to provoke. Her Point is that you done to want to provoke it in your friends. Rather than talking to their own friends about this treat the recipients of your largesse Are More Likely to be talking constantly to you a i need an extra Box to Send to a Friend of mine. Only 10 percent off for a Friend Why i buy in bulk and get things cheaper than that. They re great in a giving a party and i need enough for dessert for about 50 even if they did pass the word on they would pass on your name As the source rather than that of a retailer. Miss manners believes you would be far better off to take your allowance of free chocolates Home and serve them to your friends when they arc guests saying a this is the chocolate from the company i represent a Tell me what you think of United feature Soimis Sagittarius nov. 22-dec. 20 put on a cloak of optimism. Whatever you believe is True shows up in your life. Capricorn dec 21-Jan. 19 satisfaction reigns accept nothing less than the very Best. Don t sell yourself Short. Aquarius Jan. 20-feb. 18 be thankful to friends who Are there for you in a time of need. Count your blessings Pisces feb. 19-March 20 put a difficult relationship behind you. Move on with your life and meet someone new Aries March 21-april 19 artistic and cultural exchanges Are highlighted. Visit a gallery or see a play with friends. Taurus april 20-May 20 you Are Lucky in love and Money. Happiness is within your reach. Go for it gemini May 21-june 20 travel and adventure is slated. Let there be no hesitation. Be ready to leave posthaste. Cancer june 21-july 22 Don t put off an important business matter. Now is the time to move on it. Leo july 23-aug. 22 come to terms with a financial obligation. Meet it with commitment and consistent payments. Virgo aug. 23-sept. 22 family issues demand your attention. Either you All learn to live together or separate. Libra sept. 23-oct. 22 personal achievements Are recognized. Your paycheck reflects this. Smile All the Way to the Bank. Scorpio oct. 23-nov. 21 your guardian Angels Are working overtime to guide you. Relax and get in tune. Copley news service another husband with a gift for dodging Erma i know the symptoms Well. My husband looks up from the paper and says a Good grief its the Middle of december already. In be got to Start shopping.�?�. With that pronouncement he pushes himself away from the table and goes on his annual buying spree a for himself. He discards from his drawer All the Boxer shorts where the elastic has died in the Waistband and buys new ones. He Renews his to guide subscription and buys a new warm up suit on Sale and a Book he wants to read. He tracks Down his favorite ski pyjamas and buys three pairs. He carts in new sweaters and replaces his old Billfold that is falling apart. He shops for a Coffee cup Holder for his car new Luggage tags and a pen to replace the one he lost. Boxes and tissue fill his room As he pulls out shirts that were too cheap to pass up and a pair of glasses he always wanted. If i were Santa Claus id smack him right across the Mouth. Men at Best Are impossible to buy for. The styles of their clothes rarely change. Their hobbies Are limited. They done to succumb to cosmetic promises to take years off their lives nor do they do Busy work like Needle pointing or knitting. Their jewelry is limited. What they done to have they done to need and what they done to need they done to want. We have the same argument every year. A i suppose you bought yourself a flu a actually i did. Why a he says. A i was going to Surprise you with it a i said. A you know me i done to need a you need someone to put you under sedation until Christmas a i snapped. A How would you like it if two weeks before Christmas i went out and bought everything i wanted and left you with nothing to buy you a be a try me a he said. I thought my father was hard to buy for. He did no to like to read and he had Only one Hobby Golf. We golfer him to death. When he could no longer play the game we were stuck with his other passion Peanut Brittle. One year he got five cans of Peanut Brittle including one made with Jalapeno peppers. I told my husband a do you realize i am the Only shopper in town who returns gifts before Christmas a 1 be said a a in la do it for you. I have to go out again this afternoon. I have my Eye on a tie for my Brown Universal press Syndicate no kidding seven stars who appeared in daytime soap operas 1. Martin Sheen a the Edge of night 2. Susan Sarandon a a world apart 3. Warren Beatty a love of life 4. Sigourney Weaver a Somerset 5. James Earl Jones a guiding Light 6. Demi Moore a general Hospital 7. Joan Crawford a the secret storm world features Syndicate presents Page 10 a sunday december 13. 1992
