Don't be caught mortified
Dear Enid, while leaving a restaurant, I thought I recognized my friend’s highlights, I was fairly certain it was her shade, but I couldn’t bring myself to say hello. I felt terrible about what happened to her husband, and then I was mortified I hadn’t written a condolence card. Should I have stopped to say hello? — Avoider of Embarrassing Situations
Dear Avoider of Embarrassing Situations, do your best to sneak out undetected, but if caught, never appear to be too afraid to stop. Approach her and then tower over her. Then, be candid and direct about your failure to not send a card, to catch your friend off guard. Next, suddenly shift the conversation to talk about your own (lighter) experience with death — the death of your career, a houseplant, a burnt meal — whatever you can muster up to bring the focus back to you. And next time, send a card, Avoider! I keep these ones by on my new home office desk, where I work to write up my proposal for Vivante!
Candidly,
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