Ask Emily
By Susan Pugh on Nov. 08, 2007
Dear Emily: I am a college student who lives too far from home to see my family for Thanksgiving this year. My roommate “Reagan” feels really bad that I would spend the holiday alone, so she invited me to her house to spend it with her family. I appreciate the offer, but I really don’t like Reagan all that much and was looking forward to spending some time apart from her. I gave her every excuse I can think of, but she won’t take no for an answer. What should
I do?
— I’d rather be alone
Dear I’d rather be alone: Little white lies are sometimes the way to go, especially when you are trying to keep the peace with someone you share a residence with! Tell her you are trying to find a way to make it home. In fact, it doesn’t have to be a lie at all — look into different methods of traveling home, like taking a bus or carpooling.
This way you don’t have to make up any more excuses to tell your roommate; you just have to wait until she either leaves for the holiday, or until it is just too late for you to accompany her.
Dear Emily: I went in my boyfriend’s closet the other day, looking for a sweater, and I found a small jewelry box with what looked like an engagement ring inside! We’ve been dating for two years, and now I think he is going to propose. I wish I didn’t see the ring, but I did. Should I act surprised if he pops the question? I don’t want to ruin the moment for him, but I hate to lie.
— Discovering diamonds
Dear Discovering diamonds: It’s a little questionable that you decided to open the jewelry box in the first place, but that aside, you should try your best to be honest. The moment your boyfriend proposes, assuming that he does propose, will be one that you both talk about for years to come. And even though you saw the ring, you’ll still, most likely, be surprised when he pops the question. So don’t ruin this moment by blurting out you knew it was coming. Simply enjoy it.
If your boyfriend asks you later on if your new it was coming, you should come clean. Just emphasize that everything else was a surprise.
Dear Emily: Can you provide a list of restaurants in Lynchburg that will be open on Thanksgiving? I am fairly new to the area.
— Don’t like to cook
Dear Don’t like to cook: With the conglomerate of restaurants in Lynchburg, your best bet is to pick a few places you think you would enjoy and call ahead to get their holiday hours. To find out more about Lynchburg’s dining options, check out the dining guide in The News & Advance.
—Have a question on love, life, or etiquette? Don’t be shy — Ask Emily at
or write in care of The Burg, P.O. Box 10129, Lynchburg, VA 24506. Then go to www.
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COMMENTS
I need help. My daughter just got engaged. My sisters are not happy with her choice of bridesmaids. My oldest sister has a daughter that was asked to be in the wedding. My middle sister has 2 daughters and neither of them were asked to be in the wedding. The 2 younger girls are 13 and 17 and all the bridesmaids are in the mid-to late twenties. My daughter is not close with the younger girls at all. My middle sister called me to say she is not happy with the choice of bridesmaids and that her daughter should be in the wedding because we’re “family” and that this wedding is about “family”. I told her this was my daughter’s wedding and that she picks the wedding party—this is her day. My sister disagreed and now my older sister won’t talk to me either. My parents are elderly and my dad will be walking my daughter down the aisle—if he survives this spat with my sisters. My oldest niece is now threatening to back out of being in the wedding because my daughter didn’t ask the other niece to be in the wedding. She said my daughter should have told my sister and her daughter that her daughter is not in the wedding to their faces. I think that would have been rude, mean and hurtful. This is getting out of control. My sisters now refuse to talk to me and my parents are caught in the middle of this fight. What should I do??