Don't Forget a Handkerchief

by Kathleen Dryden
Social Graces Perfected
http://www.socialgracesperfected.com/

Months before graduation day a high school senior decided to earn extra money to buy his sweetheart a diamond pendant, which he planned to give to her the night of the prom. As planned, minutes before the dance began they sat in his car outside the school and he presented his gift to her.

As she began to open the pretty satin covered box, she recognized the beauty of both his gift and his giving, and was overcome with emotion. Her excitement for this exquisite gift of his love brought a flood of tears to her eyes.

Touched by her reaction to his gift, the young man also began to cry. It was a tender moment for the young lovers.

They searched for tissues to repair her makeup and dry their noses, but found none.

Soliciting Monetary Donations from Friends Never Neighborly

By Kathleen Dryden
Social Graces Perfected
http://www.socialgracesperfected.com/

A Matter Of Manners - How does one appropriately deal with the popularity and offense of the money tree and requests for donations or contributions to special occasions?

Stories abound from those irate about being asked to make one or more contributions to a special event.

The list of events for which we can celebrate or honor someone is endless and for most celebrations, a gift is expected, but all too often money is solicited either in lieu of or in addition to that gift.

Society Needs to Learn Phone Etiquette when Making Calls 

By Kathleen Dryden
Social Graces Perfected
http://www.socialgracesperfected.com/

When the call came I was enjoying a quiet late evening at home on the sofa, with knees drawn to my chest under a fleece blanket, a good glass of wine and a crackling fire in the fireplace. Tired from a long day of research and having the phone glued to my ear for most of the day, I felt very deserving of my peaceful evening and was in no mood to talk.

The caller ID showed "out of area" and the answering machine wasn't close enough to entice me from my comfortable position to use it for call screening. Succumbing to the little voice in my head that whispered, "It might be an emergency," I put aside the urge to not answer and greeted the caller with a friendly "Hello."