DEAR ABBY: I am a 27-year-old woman who lives alone in a house I own. Sometimes strangers come to the house for various reasons – plumbers, electricians, etc.
One question I am frequently asked is, “Do you live alone?” I just don’t know how to answer that question without feeling like someone might take advantage of me. Can you help me and other single women by providing an appropriate response? – CAUTIOUS BACHELORETTE, HUNTSVILLE, ALA.
DEAR BACHELORETTE: Gladly. Your gut instincts are on target. I ran your question by my local police department. While I do not usually advise readers to lie, this is the exception that proves the rule. If you are asked if you live alone, reply: “No, I do not live alone. My boyfriend (brother, nephew, etc.) lives here too. Why do you ask?”
DEAR ABBY: I am a college student and four months pregnant. This is my first pregnancy and I’m having a baby shower. I recently heard that sometimes males are invited to the shower. I would like to know if this is appropriate and if I can do it. My mother thinks it’s tacky, but this is 2010! Is it acceptable? – JESSICA IN CONNECTICUT
DEAR JESSICA: Yes, it is acceptable. Allow me to quote from Emily Post’s Etiquette, 17th Edition: “It is not uncommon for men to be included on baby shower guest lists these days – and some lucky guys become shower honorees. (An Emily Post Institute survey showed that over a third of respondents had attended showers where the guest list was mixed.)”