Dear Margo, Our son and his wife have separated after two months of marriage and will be divorcing shortly. They want to know what to do about the wedding gifts. Should gifts be returned when the marriage does not last six months? Many friends have said their gifts should be kept and that my son and his wife should divide them. Gifts of money were spent already on the honeymoon and on furnishing the house. - Splitsville in Wyoming
Yesterday's Response:
Dear Wyoming, According to Letitia Baldrige, foremost authority on etiquette, the couple should keep the gifts. There is always the possibility that they will get back together before the divorce is final, and if not, friends will feel so saddened by the news that a returned gift would make them feel worse.
Today's Response:
Dear Wyoming, Ha! Tish Baldridge was my neighbor in Chicago, and a woman for whose social arbitration I had high regard. I do agree that wedding gifts should be kept, because sending them is not contingent on the length of the marriage. (I'm not sure I agree with the idea that returning them would "sadden" people, or that the couple might reunite.) - Margo
Hi! It's Margo here. I'd love to know what you think of the letters -- and the answers!
Also, any additional thoughts you might have. Thanks!
Mariba's Comment
The couple should keep the gifts and split them up. I'm sorry the marriage didn't work out, but there's more important things going in their lives than the gifts.
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Our Reader to Reader Question of the Week:
Dear Readers, , and last year for my birthday he gave me a beautiful watch.
Something weird is going on, and I can�t figure out what�s at the bottom of it. His stenographer is overly interested in our personal business. She wants to know where we go, how much he spends and what we talk about.
Last night, I�m sure I saw her following us in her car. The night before, she sat directly behind us at the movies. I asked my boyfriend to explain this. He said he didn�t want it to �get around� because it�d be bad for business, but she�s his first cousin. He claims she�s very competent and he can�t tell her off because she might quit. He asks that I be patient and overlook her odd behavior. What do you make of it?
�Shadowed
