DEAR MISS MANNERS: On three separate occasions during the past month, my husband and I have come across somewhat elderly gentlemen who have been eager to share their life experiences. Two of these were volunteers at historical sites, and one was a neighbor who approached us in the driveway.

In each instance, it quickly became apparent that the person was so interested in sharing his experiences that our interaction was not so much a conversation as it was a monologue. Each seemed oblivious to the fact that we might have other needs to attend to after awhile, such as (literally) having a plane to catch.

Even after several attempts to jump in with a comment of my own, followed by a “Goodness, look at the time!” it seemed impossible to get away without being quite abrupt. I feel rude just cutting someone off and walking away, especially when it involves an elderly person, but after 20 or 30 minutes of a one-way information session, I find myself at a loss as to how else to respond.

GENTLE READER: Being on the elderly side herself, Miss Manners will try to keep her answer brief. But if you find yourself drifting off in the middle of it, you only have yourself to blame for asking.

If reasonable attempts to interrupt politely do not work, that sudden gasp at the passage of time, with a flurry of apologies, might. Just be careful not to alarm the stranger to the point that the need for medical attention further delays your retreat.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My youngest son and I have our birthdays at the end of the summer, two weeks apart. My mom and I are very close and have a good relationship.

Last year on my birthday, she booked and attended an event for the entire day without checking with me. I was really hurt, and she was unapologetic. This year, for my son’s birthday, she will be gone the entire weekend and will miss his birthday.

Am I wrong in expecting her to reserve these days for family, or to expect her to check with us before making other plans? My children are her only grandkids and we regularly see each other.

GENTLE READER: At a certain age (yours), it should no longer be expected that everyone in one’s family and life will stop everything every year to celebrate every single birthday. If it were, Miss Manners feels certain that families, particularly large ones, would do little else.

And while she concedes that a young child has a little more leeway to be annually feted, it should still not be considered a mandatory standing date for adults.

Miss Manners is not surprised at your mother’s reluctance to reserve two full weeks when she sees you regularly anyway -- and there are your other children to consider later in the year. If you have specific plans to celebrate, then alert your mother well in advance -- and preempt her likely assumption that if she was not invited to a specific event, her life is hers to schedule as she wishes.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Eating alone 95 percent of the time, I have time to ponder such problems as:

1. Is it OK to double-dip my chips in the salsa or queso at a Mexican restaurant, since my track record over 40 years shows that I will not be joined by anyone?

2. Also in Mexican food establishments, am I breaking a rule of etiquette to maneuver my refried beans down to the rice side of the plate and mix them? I like to eat them mixed.

3. Our local Chinese buffet always offers vegetable lo mein. It also always has a huge slab of either roast beef or pork. Am I out of order to slice off my portion of meat and, then, back at the table, cut it up at one time and create a meat lo mein dish for myself? I know you’re supposed to cut your meat bite-by-bite as you eat it, but this seems to be a logical exception.

I don’t see how I can turn these problems around to shift the blame elsewhere -- if blame there be. But I’m truly seeking information. I can mend my ways if need be.

GENTLE READER: When eating alone in public, most of the standard etiquette rules still apply, but not all. You might bear in mind that others, including the waitstaff, may observe you inadvertently.

However, you are not asking to lick your plate. If it is your own private condiment dish, then you may “double-dip.” If you can subtly mix your rice and beans, then do so. You may cut your lo mein meat.

Miss Manners hopes that your reward for recognizing that being in public is not the same as being alone will arrive in the form of company at future meals. If, of course, you so choose.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have been interested in design since I was young. My father was a talented sculptor and woodworker, and my mother and grandmother were interior designers. I have honed my style and design acumen during my life through observation, study and travel, and use my home to express that style.

I enjoy hosting friends and family, during which I am often asked about a particular piece of furniture, object or artifact. I appreciate the curiosity and interest, and am happy to supply any information I can.

What I am not comfortable with, however, is when I am asked about the price of said object. I try to demur and say “I don’t recall” or “Too much!” but I have been pressed further more than once, and I’m at a loss as to how to respond. I’ve even gone as far as to give the contact name of a dealer, but I know deep down that some people are just being nosy. I should say that some items I’ve found at tag sales, while others are pricey antiques. What would Miss Manners suggest?

GENTLE READER: “Even if I could recall the cost, I am afraid that it is between me and my tax attorney. But thank you for your interest.”

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My daughter has become friends with my son’s ex-girlfriend, and wants her to attend her wedding. This girlfriend broke up with my son over a year ago, which hurt my son a bit. My son has moved on and has been dating a new girl for about eight months.

We’ve asked him what he feels, and he basically doesn’t want her there. But it’s my daughter’s wedding, and we are friends with her parents, too. To prevent a world war, who do I side with?

GENTLE READER: Do you remember when they were younger and fought over who had the toy first? Sometimes you took the decision out of their hands (“If you can’t agree, then nobody gets to play with it”), but sometimes it was more effective to make them work it out themselves.

This is one of the latter times. Miss Manners has no objection to your making the comparison when you tell your son and daughter -- it will remind them that they are brother and sister, and that they love and should respect each other.

However, it would be best to avoid being too explicit that the ex-girlfriend has been cast in the role of the stuffed giraffe.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My boyfriend and I live together and work for the same company. We are invited to a retirement party for a guy who used to work with both my boyfriend and his ex-wife.

The ex-wife was the retiree’s old boss. She is now in a different department with a bigger title. I would like to go to the party, but I feel this is more her turf, being that it was her old group. Should I still go with my boyfriend? Should he go by himself? I feel that skipping the party would not be a good idea, because my boyfriend has worked well with the retiree.

GENTLE READER: Mixing one’s personal and professional lives causes so many problems that Miss Manners would have thought people would by now have heeded her advice to desist.

Alas, no. Very well. Your boyfriend presumably has to interact with his ex-wife at work. If he -- and she -- are wise, they have decided to observe a merely professional relationship, saving any necessary remaining cleanup of their former status for off-work hours.

You should do the same. Whether or not to attend the party can then be decided on whether you were invited as an employee or the partner of one. In the former case, how well did you know the retiree? In the latter case, are other employees bringing their partners?

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I live on the corner of a major street in my town, very near the intersection with another major street. As such, there will be times when I am out working in my yard, or out in front for whatever reason, and a funeral motorcade will pass. I’d like to be respectful as they pass, but am unsure exactly what I should do. Any suggestion would be helpful.

GENTLE READER: Stopping your activity and standing with a solemn face while the cortege passes is an easy way to pay your respects. It is also a kind thing to do, so Miss Manners hopes you will not be discouraged if she notes that, it being a major street, others who do not notice are not guilty of impropriety for politely going about their business.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)