DEAR ABBY: When a person is thoughtful enough to take a dish of food -- a lunch-type dish or dessert -- to the office, and brings metal forks to eat the food with, shouldn't the people partaking of the "gift" return the utensils so the person who brought them can take them home? Must I put up a sign at the table asking that all utensils be returned to me? What's the best way to handle this? It's really a problem in some office situations. -- WONDERING IN THE SOUTH
DEAR WONDERING: One would think that if someone brings metal utensils to a gathering that the recipients would have enough common sense to ASK if the giver wanted them returned. Because your co-workers don't seem to have common sense, the next time you bring food to the office to be shared, make the announcement or bring plastic utensils with you. That should solve your dilemma.