>  BM> I read the original, and it appears (which I didn't realize from your
 >  BM> post) that the hosts had makings for a meal that they generously

 >  YES! I forgot that part!!! Thanks. I should have
 > hunted for the
 > article but I was too lazy to go through the recycling
 > bin. Sorry. Next
 > time I'll put wanted article right here by the puter
 > and refer to it
 > directly instead of trying to do so from memory.

 > Talk about GALL. Yes. The woman said her widowed
 > friend was  fantastic
 > cook.... A compliment at the face of it but an insult
 > for how it was
 > used as a manipulative matchmaking tool.

 > My sister is a fantastic cook. When she came to visit
 > we cooked
 > together. She taught me a few tricks here and there.
 > We had a great
 > time. But I'd never burden her with the responsibility
 > of cooking an
 > entire meal even if she offered. If the request was
 > made say for a
 > family gathering to help with the meal preparation
 > that would be
 > different and okay as long as the good cook is
 > willing.

 >  BM> thought the widow would be delighted to prepare for the date (while
 >  BM> the hosts made themselves scarce.)  It was the hosts who asked the man

 >  These hosts are true meddlers. That's for sure. I
 > hope the widow
 > knows to make HERSELF scarce from them, now.

 >  BM> to leave after the widow departed.  I'll bet it will be a long time
 >  BM> before either the man or the widow accept a dinner date without very
 >  BM> closely questioning the would-be hosts, and assessing their trust in
 >  BM> said would-be hosts.

 >   A VERY long time. But I also bet you that host and
 > hostess took
 > offense rather than learned a valuable lesson as Ms.
 > Manners attempted
 > to *politely* provide. (She is not one to be rude to
 > the rude, she
 > has more style than that- yet there's no escaping how
 > the cluelessly rude
 > will react as if they're being unjustly offended
 > instead.

Of course.  Each of us knows what's best for the others. Unfortunately, the
others just will not agree with us. ;)

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