Just Ask Georgia: 3/19/2025

GEORGIA, I have a question,

My mother taught me that when being toasted, one doesn’t take a sip, as that’s like tooting one’s own horn. When my spouse and I celebrated an anniversary with a party, the guests toasted us with champagne. When I didn’t sip, one of the guests asked me why, implying that my marriage wasn’t something I wanted celebrated. YIKES!

My choices were to “correct” the guest—which I don’t feel is right, as they aren’t one of my children—or leave the impression that my marriage was less than toast-worthy. Neither option appealed to me.

How would the etiquette master GEORGIA have handled the situation? Or was my mother wrong all those years ago?

TO SIP OR NOT TO SIP

Dear SIP,

No, your mother was right; you should not drink to yourselves. This should be obligatory information given to couples applying for marriage licenses because not everyone is lucky enough to have such a knowledgeable mother as you!

GEORGIA does not care for the snippy remark you received, even if it was meant as a joke. To avoid such comments, immediately say, “And we would like to toast our dear friends,” thus enabling you to take a legitimate skip.

With love, GEORGIA

GEORGIA, I have a question,

My husband and I are expecting our first child, a boy. We have been bouncing names around since we knew we were expecting. We had a name we liked and told others this name was in the running, but we never told anyone that it was our final decision.

However, my mother-in-law, who has always been a bit much, took it upon herself to get the name tattooed on her wrist at the beginning of my second trimester as a “surprise.” It’s enormous and gaudy. Mission accomplished - my husband and I were shocked, as we were still unsure about the name.

A few weeks ago, we ultimately decided to go with something else. When she found out, she absolutely lost it, saying we had disrespected her. Now, she’s demanding we change it back. Even my husband is not asking me to reconsider to keep the peace.

What should I do?

TATTOOED TOO SOON

Dear TOO SOON,

And THIS is why we don’t get names as tattoos! Oh my, oh my...your mother-in-law sounds like...a lot.

Until the child is physically here, the name is ALWAYS hypothetical. Heck, I know people who have changed their baby’s name months after birth because it didn’t fit them. She’s silly for jumping the gun on this one.

Perhaps use the name as a middle name? Otherwise, too bad for her, as she will always have to explain it to those around her... and, someday, to your child!

With love, GEORGIA

Have a question for Georgia? Email her at whledger@gmail.com.

Please note: this column is just for fun. No person, animal, or property has ever been harmed or in danger. Satire is “the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.”