Category: An Honest Appraisal

  Plane Talk Dear Aunt Bossy,   The other evening, I was returning from an exhausting business trip and was on the third flight of the day. I was, unfortunately, in a middle seat because I managed to get an earlier flight on standby.

  Sister’s Keeper Dear Aunt Bossy,   I, a female, was recently at a very expensive restaurant with a female business client. Seated near us were a flashy and overdressed man, who looked like an actor in a movie about the mafia, and his nervous and very sexy date. He was in his late forties or early fifties. She was in her early twenties.

  Hungry But Horrified Dear Aunt Bossy, I just took an airplane flight and the man sitting next to me whipped out an enormous and smelly takeout plate of hamburger, fries, and ketchup. It smelled delicious, but very invasive. Is this considered acceptable behavior in such a confined space?    Jackie

Dear Aunt Bossy, You are always going on about people being victims, obsessing about them “hugging the thorns” as you like to say over and over and over. I am frankly sick of it.  

Social DiseaseDear Aunt Bossy,   My best friend leads a dark life and I am trying to help her, but don’t know what to do. She surrounds herself with bad news. Every day she sends me posts about poverty, slavery, injustice, and disease.

Feeling Jilted Two for one, or two for four, or the cheese stands alone. Two separate questions about the same kind of problem came Aunt Bossy’s way this month.

Dear Aunt Bossy, I am having an argument with a friend of mine who says that people who always act nice are “people pleasers” and are very insecure. She thinks that people who are nasty are more honest and secure. What do you think? Nice Nellie

Assistant or Assassin? I have a dear friend who is in big trouble and I don’t know how to help. He is a very smart and successful person who is in terrible health. The problem is his assistant. She is incredibly competent and he depends on her for everything. She runs his life.

Managing Off the Precipice Dear Aunt Bossy, I belong to an organization where I have to interact with all kinds of folks, and it is generally very rewarding. However, I am currently in a position where I have to interact and depend upon a fellow who gets his power and happiness out of managing what doesn’t need to be managed.

Born To Lead. Not.Dear Aunt Bossy, I love my work. Unfortunately, just doing a good job is not considered enough by my employer and I am expected to be active in an association that represents my industry.

Lean Back, Sheryl Sandburg! So many very talented writers and pundits weighed in on this subject last week, and I’m a bit behind the times, but Aunt Bossy just couldn’t let this horror slip by.

Turn The Page Dear Aunt Bossy, I like to read biographies, autobiographies and memoirs, but whenever I do, I always feel like the world’s biggest loser when I’m finished. Everyone else’s life seems to be so much more interesting than mine.

The Pregnant Pause Dear Aunt Bossy, My oldest daughter recently got married. Her younger sister took the opportunity to formally announce her own pregnancy at the reception. This was not an off the cuff remark; it was a prepared speech.

Medical Manners Dear Aunt Bossy, I have a friend in the hospital and am unsure what I should do to help. I don’t know if she is in good enough shape for me to visit or if she even wants visitors. I also don’t know what would be a good thing to take when/if I do visit. Nervous Nancy

Daddy Dearest Dear Aunt Bossy, I am almost fifty years old and am still held hostage by my parents. Recently, my father had a retirement party. I am very good at organizing events, so I took charge, spending lots of time and money.

Sixteen Tons Dear Aunt Bossy, I hate my job. Every day seems like a week, and I don’t know what to do. I hate being in an office, and I hate my fellow workers, and I hate my boss. The problem is that the money is great, and I like to shop and go to expensive places, so I can’t switch careers. What should I do? Dead

Fit to Be Tied Dear Aunt Bossy, I am about to get married to a lovely gal. She is beautiful and smart and a good cook and likes to do all the things that I like to do like hunting and fishing and camping and boating. Only problem is that she is a complete control freak and everything has to be perfect or she gets very upset.

Jumping the Gun Dear Aunt Bossy, I just did something with the best of intentions, but it was wrong and stupid and now I don’t know what to do.