WHEN DO YOU TELL

It's always been a rough area of discernment for me. When do you tell someone they look foolish?

My classic example that I shared with a College Prep Writing class concerned a Full Prof, as he let me know when I addressed him as Mr. Vieth on an assigned paper for English Lit. One early morning Winter day after we had walked across campus to get to the beautiful English building back then, a pole barn constructed edifice on the wrong side of the tracks, we talked before class. He took out a handkerchief, blew his nose, wiped his nose, but a little of what came from there remained on his cheekbone.

This incident occurred after I had mistakenly referred to him as Mr. rather than Dr. So I was too intimidated to tell him he had a booger on his face.

Other times I have noticed sesame seeds stuck in teeth, barn doors open, lettuce on chins, pizza on shirts, and just yesterday a little chicken salad on the belly of a bud. And I'm almost always silent, just as I was with Mr. Vieth. Oh, did I just refer to him as Mister again? Good.

The one exception is family. If I catch any wayward food or clothing malfunction (thanks for the term Justin), I let them know immediately. Not that I want the control. I just want to save them any embarrassment.

But even with the best of friends, I have trouble saving them from the same fate. So if you're not related, and you're around me when something like that happens, you're on your own. Better check a mirror now and then just to be on the safe side.