Greetings, Miss Manners We used to be very close to our neighbors who lived next door. Once or twice a week, we ate meals together. On one occasion, we even spent a weekend watching their 2-year-old twins while they were away at a funeral.
Politics caused them to start separating from us, and eight years ago they left without even bidding us farewell. We recently got some unexpected text messages from the wife, followed by news of each of their boys’ graduations via mail.
Are we required to provide gifts in light of the friendship’s break, which was unintentional? My spouse thinks we should give them gifts, but I’m pleased to send a kind email congratulating them on their graduation.
GENTLE READER: An notification of a milestone does not constitute a request for gifts.
Miss Manners ought to make it clear that, regardless of whether it was the sender’s actual intention, it should not be interpreted as one.
Your former neighbors would have invited you to the ceremony or graduation celebration if they truly wished to reconnect with you. Then you may have wanted to deliver gifts to the grads.
Even while it could be tempting, Miss Manners hopes that if you do give a gift, it won’t be a political donation to your favored party.
(Questions can be sent to Miss Manners via email at [email protected], her website at www.missmanners.com, or by mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
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