DEAR ABBY: I recently canceled a party that has been an annual event. I did it because, of 20 invitations I mailed out, only three individuals bothered to respond by the requested RSVP date. This has happened before, and I am tired of trying to guess how many will attend.
Some years I have been left with too much food, which went to waste. Other years there wasn't enough to go around. Now, some of the invitees are upset. I am getting comments like, "I was going to reply," or "You know we ALWAYS come, so we didn't think we needed to reply." I have also received e-mails bemoaning the fact that I have ruined what was always a fun event.
I refuse to allow them to bully me into throwing the party or feel like an ogre for canceling it. And no, I am not asking for advice. I just needed a place to vent about the cluelessness that seems rampant in our society. -- NOT A PSYCHIC IN ST. LOUIS, MO.
DEAR NOT A PSYCHIC: Because you're not asking for my advice, I won't offer any. However, I'm glad you wrote to vent because that's what I'm here for, and it gives me a chance to remind readers that when they receive an invitation with "RSVP" on it, the RSVP means they should inform their prospective host as soon as possible whether or not they will attend. Not to do so is rude, rude, rude.