Sept. 22, 2004 Dear Annie,
Your advice on giving a shower came at the perfect time. My daughter-in-law and I threw a party for my son's fiancée, and used some of your ideas. I like having gatherings at my house. It's the only time I really give it a good cleaning! Once you mentioned that we who have been married a number of years are the ones who need the gifts! That's so true! I had to go buy new dishtowels so there'd be some that didn't look like rags for the shower guests to use!
Helen in Centralia, WA
Dear Helen,
I've toyed with that idea for a long time. Someday I'll do it-invite any women I'd like to have come, and ask them to bring a household gift and, if there's a game they'd like to play, bring it and a prize. That sounds so fun! I'm going to get my sister to help me organize one, and I'll report back to you readers later on how it went. Hope I get some dish towels! Mine have seen their better days, too! One other note on showers: Please, if you're having one, send the invitations out with enough time for the guests to arrange their schedule around it and buy a gift. This week I got an invite with a specific room of the house I was supposed to buy a present for, with less than three days notice! That is certainly not enough time for me to arrange a sitter for the little one, buy that particular gift, and make it to the party. It made me feel my presence was not important enough to the person throwing the shower for her to give me more time to prepare. Still, I feel bad for not going.
Annie
Please write to: Annie, P.O. Box 1084, Eatonville,WA 98328
E-mail: letters_annie@hotmail.com
Past Ask Annies:
Sept. 22, 2004 It's the long-married who need the household gifts.
Sept. 15, 2004 How Do I Be The Bride's Maid?
Sept. 8, 2004 Political Signs in Morton Jubilee Parade
Aug. 11, 2004 Adjusting to the loss of loved ones and appreciating the family we have.
Aug. 4, 2004 Mom Was Right About The Guy & Reply to a Critic Of Proud To Be An American
July 28, 2004 Go See and Enjoy Your Family
July 21, 2004 Readers Suggest Solutions to Doting Wife
July 14, 2004 Wife Dotes on Husband After Retirement
July 7, 2004 Canadians Think Americans Are Too Proud
June 30, 2004 Annie Column "Trivial?" plus More Supporting Parents
June 23, 2004 Repeat: Packwood Flea Marts
June 16, 2004 Doesn't Want to Marry Older Guy
June 9, 2004 Rented to Friend's Kids
June 2, 2004 Daughter Reluctant to Help Brother Support Parents
May 5, 2004 Strife While Building a House
Apr. 28, 2004 Blessings in a Physically Challenged Child Hunting Easter Eggs
Apr. 21, 2004 Pushy people who keep telling us, "You should..."
Apr. 14, 2004 Abusive Dad, Discourteous Telephoning
Apr. 7, 2004 Guilty About Inadequately Reciprocating to Wonderful Giving Friend
Mar. 31, 2004 Kids Selling Cookies
Mar. 24, 2004 Big Girl Wants to Avoid Brother's Fancy Wedding
Mar. 17, 2004 New Manager Getting Gifts from Subordinate?
Mar. 10, 2004 Loaned Money to Roommate
Mar. 3, 2004 Complaining about Boring Older Peoples' Talk
Feb. 25, 2004 Give Kid's Items to Food Bank
Jan. 28, 2004 Bad Phone Manners
Jan. 21, 2004 Avoid Church Because of Flu?
Jan. 14, 2004 Boyfriend Breakup But Gift, Also Relative Tells Private Life
Dec. 24, 2003 Memories of Good Parents
Dec. 17, 2003 Christmas Gift for Wife?
Dec. 10, 2003 Thanks to Food Bank Helpers
Dec. 3, 2003 Child's Names on Belongings & Appreciating Family at Holidays
Nov. 26, 2003 Big Family Thanksgiving with Paper Plates
Nov. 12, 2003 Husband Driven Nuts To Do Crafts By Wife
Nov. 5, 2003 Dreading Husband's Retirement
Oct. 29, 2003 Move back home from boyfriend's house?
Oct. 22, 2003 Did I raise my daughter to do these things?
Oct. 15, 2003 Misunderstanding about School Workers' Kindness
Oct. 8, 2003 Prayer for Brown Sisters Killed and Change Schoolyear to Oct.1 to June 30
Oct. 1, 2003 Response About Non-tipping Lotto Winner
Sept. 24, 2003 Church-goers Inattentive
Sept. 17, 2003 Friend Sells My Stuff on Ebay
Sept. 10, 2003 Lottery Winner Didn't Tip Clerk
Sept. 3, 2003 Business Insults to Consumers
Aug. 27, 2003 Divison of Wedding Expense
Aug. 20, 2003 School Workers' Kindness & Men's Attractiveness
Aug. 13, 2003 Attractiveness Hints
Aug. 6, 2003 Annie's Husband's Accident at Work
July 30, 2003 Deer Automatic Sprinkler Best & Stores Don't Stock Washington Clothes
July 23, 2003 Scarecrows and Halloween Decorations Scare Off Prowlers Too
July 16, 2003 Redhead Asks Attractiveness Advice
July 2, 2002 Atomatic Deer Scarecrow Blasts Prowler