DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is a ride on a motorcycle a good idea for a first date? My date showed up carrying two helmets and wearing a leather jacket.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I received a cancer diagnosis two months ago. Initially, I was quite open in discussing it with others when warranted -- for example, explaining to co-workers why I would be out on ... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How do I respond to some common shaming I get from people I know?... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Why is tipping expected? I was under the impression that it was up to the customer. In my state, servers are paid minimum wage, so it’s not a question of being underpaid.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have two friends I see frequently, but they rarely see each other. When we all get together, inevitably one will start telling the other a story I have heard many times. Then the ... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Just after Thanksgiving each year, my young nieces send out a letter to the extended family that contains their "Letter to Santa," outlining the things they would like as gifts.... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I received an invitation for a work-sponsored event. The invitation states: “To help us minimize our environmental footprint and make cleanup easier, we kindly ask that you bring yo... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was at the head of a line to vote; the precinct wasn’t crowded, and no one’s wait was long. The precinct volunteer encountered a problem that prompted her to seek help, and I spen... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: As part of my job as a news reporter, I spend a great deal of time on the telephone. The conversations I have require a lot of concentration. Often, I have been waiting all day to h... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Due to a computer meltdown earlier this year, I had to rebuild my holiday greeting card address list. When I asked my mother-in-law to share her list from that side of the family, I... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I had cancer last year and lost my hair. I’m fine now, but my hair is growing back super curly. Every day, people make comments about it: “Oh, your hair! It’s so curly!”... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My signature perfume is a well-known -- and expensive -- classic scent. For my last birthday I received not one, but two generous gifts of this perfume: one from a dear lifetime fri... more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I got married at an early age, but the marital bliss was short-lived as my wife died a few years later. That was 20 years ago, and I have since built a new, happy life for myself.... more