Should I have explained that I was dining with friends and excused myself or introduced my dining companions to this gentleman?
DEAR MISS MANNERS: I appeared in a local theatrical production that was well-received. One of our performances was attended by my closest friend, who brought along his lovely wife and two wonderful children.
While I’m grateful that he is supporting the local arts and that he enjoyed our production, being approached by strangers while I’m dining out with friends is awkward for me. Particularly since he seemed to have no interest in even acknowledging my friends. After he left, I apologized for the interruption. My friends seemed to take this in stride, perhaps recognizing the awkwardness and my uncertainty as to how to deal with this situation.
GENTLE READER: If an exchange like this goes on for more than those several seconds, Miss Manners’ sagacious counsel is that you tell the gentleman that you appreciate his compliments, but you are out with friends you have not seen in a while. If an opportunity to introduce them feels right, then you may do so to ease the dismissal.
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