DEAR HARRIETTE: I went to a friend's wedding a month ago. It was great to go there, and my husband and I had to rearrange a lot of things in order to make it happen. The wedding was several states away, which meant we took a long drive and then had to stay in a hotel. I'm only mentioning these things because I'm in an awkward position. We spent a lot of money to attend the wedding, so we didn't have much money left to give my friend a great gift. We ended up giving the couple a small check, but I feel bad about that. I wish we could have done more. Should I say something to my friend about why her gift was so small? -- Short on Cash, Los Angeles
DEAR SHORT ON CASH: I totally understand why you feel the way you do, and I want to suggest that you let it go. You and your husband made a big effort to witness and celebrate your friend's wedding. That counts for a lot. What's more, since you are friends with this woman, hopefully this is the first of many times that you will connect with her over the years. Make the decision to celebrate the new couple on their first anniversary by sending them a lovely gift or inviting them to visit with you. You can come up with creative ways to continue the celebration of love over time. Don't fret about what you were able to offer today.