Here are my answers to this week's That's Awfully Personal questions:
| Q:
Your home is aflame and burning out of control. All living creatures
have been safely evacuated. You have time to go back in quickly and
save one possession from the flames. What would it be, and why? |
A:
Anything in my house that can be captured digitally -- music, photos,
written documents -- is on my PC, and the monthly backup is offsite, so
my PC would not be the first thing I'd save. That digital record
includes an itemized list and photos of valuables for insurance
purposes. Almost all our collectibles are replaceable. I'm not terribly
attached to things, including
heirlooms or clothing. So I guess I'd rescue one of the very few
original works of art we have in the house. I'd be far more concerned
about the fire spreading to the hundreds of trees and the wilderness
area of our property, and that of our neighbours.
|
| Q:
The very attractive spouse of your good friend comes on to you, gently
but persistently, at a garden party. How do you deal with the spouse,
and what, if anything, do you tell your good friend, who gets jealous
easily, about the incident? |
A:
I'm very old-fashioned when it comes to total honesty in relationships.
With two important exceptions, I would immediately, tactfully reproach
the spouse and tell her that her husband was a good friend, and that
'this behaviour' is inappropriate. I would do so even if it were some
other guy she was coming on to, if I witnessed it -- I think that
responsibility comes with close friendship. Exception One: If alcohol
was a significant factor, I'd get my good friend to take care of his
wife before she did something she'd regret later, rather than saying
something to her directly. Exception Two: In some (but not all)
cultures, flirtation is a harmless activity, not intended to in any way
diminish or dishonour a loving relationship, or to lead to infidelity.
Provided my good friend and his spouse (and I and my spouse) all
understood this for what it was, what it meant and didn't mean, and the
rules and limits of behaviour, I'd play the game, and enjoy it. Alas,
it's a dying art, a social skill and a form of dance we Anglophones
especially would be wise to relearn.
|
If you're interested in playing That's
Awfully Personal each week, the questions, and a complete
explanation, can be found here.
|
MADE IN CANADA
trust your
instincts 
