Dear Eric: I am flummoxed. I am not understanding the absence of mannerly behavior in the generations past my own (I am a boomer, perish the thought).
In the past year I have: hosted a shower for two professional people I know who were getting married; hosted the best woman and her partner at said wedding; hosted a friend and her partner at a private party at a private club; sent a baby gift to children of a close friend; participated in a master’s graduation celebration with a substantial monetary gift to the graduate; and at the request of a friend invited her and her partner to a dinner at my private club from which they backed out at the final moment citing a birthday party for a good friend.
My beef? Not one of these people has yet to thank me for my efforts. Not the couple who were the focus of the shower, not their attendant who stayed at my home, not the bridal couple whose wedding I supported personally and financially, not my nephew who received my congratulations, wines and money for his masters’ degree, and not the friend who bailed on a special dinner at the last moment…