DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a friend (we’re in our 60s) who lapses into baby talk. Mostly it is with her cat, and mine, but also in public, if we come across someone with an animal. It’s bad enough when she does it in private to our pets, but really annoying in public.
Do I just bite my tongue, or is there a little nudge that would bring this to her attention? I don’t think she realizes she is doing it.
GENTLE READER: Yeow.
Oops. That was not intended as kitty-cat talk, but only to indicate that Miss Manners shares your icky feeling about this. But your friend wasn’t talking to her -- or, for that matter, to you. You need only wait it out with a neutral, if not aloof, expression, as the cats are no doubt doing.
(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.)