DEAR HARRIETTE: If you've just been crying, do you apologize for your appearance or ignore the tears that obviously just happened? I don't like to talk about my feelings much, but it seems silly to ignore my appearance when accepting food from a delivery person. Do I owe them an explanation, or should I just ignore the situation? -- Crybaby, Boston
DEAR CRYBABY: You have no obligation to talk about your emotional state when you are receiving a delivery. Ideally, it would be good for you to wipe your face before opening the door so that you have regained some modicum of composure. But unless this is a delivery person with whom you have an ongoing interaction -- as in, unless this is the person who usually delivers from your favorite restaurant and with whom you have some kind of personal rapport -- you should simply say, "Thank you," pay for your delivery, offer a tip and conclude that interaction.