Dear Miss Manners,
Today I found myself in an awkward position and need your advice on how I should have responded.
I drove to a local park and got out of my car with camera in hand to watch the geese and ducks gathered along the river bank. As I exited my vehicle, I heard a loud whistle. When I turned around to see who was whistling and at whom, I found myself face to face with a grinning man driving a large blue conversion van. The man had a welcoming smile and motioned to the back of his van.
Thinking that he probably wasn't inviting me in for tea, I panicked, got back in my car, and drove away. I am not exactly known for my grace in these social situations and need to know which of these resposes would have been more acceptable.
A. Should I have thanked the greasy looking man for his invitation and politely declined? Perhaps indicating that I was not properly dressed for the occasion or had a prior commitment?
B. Should I have cheerfully waved at the man with my middle finger while telling him in no uncertain terms where he could park his van?
C. Should I have run for my life, screaming like a frightened little girl while covering my backside with both hands?
As I am not accustomed to being whistled at in public nor receiving such unseemly offers (these normally being the kind of thing that happens to my wife) I would like to know how you would have handled the man's offer.
Awaiting your informed reply,
Still driving like hell in Springfield
This is quite a dilemma! I’m afraid I would have ended up bound and gagged in the back of the van because I wouldn’t have wanted to hurt the old man’s feelings.
Honestly, I think I would have smiled, waved back, gotten in my car and got the heck out of there.
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Dear Still Driving like Hell in Springfield. I hope you have a full tank of gas.
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