DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was excluded from an event put together by someone I consider a very good friend. I only found out about the event by all the photos on Facebook. I am obviously very hurt by this.
What would your advice be on handling my feelings? Should I ask the hostess why she decided to exclude me?
GENTLE READER: Why? Do you want to hear the answer?
However, please allow Miss Manners to contest the premise of your question. You were not, in fact, excluded from this event; you were simply not invited. People are not required to invite all of their friends on every occasion.
Social media postings have unfortunately blasted the rule that one does not mention such events, either before or after they take place, to those who were not invited. Miss Manners wishes she could persuade hosts and guests to refrain from doing so, but she is not optimistic.
Nevertheless, you will spare yourself a lot of anguish if you simply accept that you will not always be invited to everything.