DEAR ABBY: We recently celebrated the milestone birthday of a dear friend with a party. In honor of the occasion we presented her with a very nice bracelet with various fabricated gemstones set in a nice silver setting. As she was identifying the names of the stones, I blurted out that they "weren't real" because I didn't want her thinking we were trying to pass them off as the real thing.
Now I'm afraid I might have cheapened our gift -- although believe me, her bracelet was not cheap. I feel like an idiot. Should I try to fix this mess or just let it be? -- FOOT IN MOUTH IN THE SOUTHWEST
DEAR FOOT IN MOUTH: I think enough has already been said. Whether the stones in the bracelet were natural or man-made, the thought behind the gift was genuine.