Forward.com

‘Ask Wendy’ Bids A Fond FarewellNext week’s paper will not include my byline.Five years ago, when I began writing “Ask Wendy,” the column was an extension of my life. I would walk into a store to buy a jacket and end up sitting on the dressing-room floor counseling the saleswoman. At any given dinner party, I would spend all night talking to one…Read more

The Word Inconsiderate Comes to MindMany of my friends are nonworking mothers. Is it petty of me to be irritated when they make lunch dates and ask either where I’m likely to be that day (I’m in my office, which has a fixed address) or if I can meet them in their part of town? I understand that they have commitments too, but I am the one with a set schedule and prescribed…Read more

Bouncing Back From ‘Insufficient Funds’A check my daughter received for her bat mitzvah came back from the bank [marked] “insufficient funds.” The gift was from a school friend, whose parents I don’t know well. My husband says I should call them and see if it is okay to redeposit the check, but I don’t want to embarrass anyone.—…Read more

Persisting and PesteringI have applied for a position for which I believe I am eminently qualified. I have not heard from anyone since I submitted my resume two weeks ago. Which side of the fine line between pestering and persisting do I walk? I really want the job.— Employing job etiquette I assume you would have mentioned it if you were dating the boss’s…Read more

What Is It That Makes Men Squirm?I had dinner with a close friend last week. I know through a mutual friend that he is having marital problems. I wondered whether to broach the subject, but decided not to ask specifically about his personal situation. My thought was that if he wanted to talk about it, he would bring it up, and I didn’t want to be intrusive. He didn’t bring…Read more