Minding Manners

It's the holiday season. Time for a crash course in the use of many-pronged stabbing instruments

I love the garish foolishness of the holidays--the hideous seasonal sweaters, the inclusion of the candy cane in the food pyramid, the annual opportunity to sit on a fat man's lap and tell him secrets. It is as if we called a time-out from the rules that dictate our everyday lives, and for many families this is a delightful occurrence. Unfortunately, this time of year also presents us with unusual social situations that call for extended families and friends to come together and share the convivial spirit of the season, which in my family leads to the annual shock of rediscovering...

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