Ask Maxy

Dear Maxy ,
I have been concerned about a possible  water shortage in the U.S. and around the world . I recently  stayed  with a friend  and was amazed how much water  she wasted . She would keep the kitchen faucet turned  on for several minutes  while working in another area . I didn't say anything  , but it sure  hit me  that we waste this  precious  resource .
I am not perfect with my water  usage , but I hardly would have let my water run while I didn't need it . Specialists on water shortage have written articles  on how soon  our water  supply  could run out .
I am hoping  you will print  this  and it will save  water in  some households .
Concerned  Water Conservator
Dear Concerned ,
We don't always  appreciate  that we have  finite  resources  on this planet , including water  . Please folks , don't run the faucet  if you don't need the water . Use cold water when you can . Lets not take our blessing for granted .
Maxy

Dear Maxy ,
I really like the man I am dating  and I feel  like it is time  for him to meet  my parents . I ran the idea by them  and they agreed ... under one condition . My parents  would like to meet him at church . I told my boyfriend  their request  and he was not pleased with the idea . He is not the church going type  and when I told my parents  that my boyfriend  would not be attending church  service  , they were upset . Now my parents are giving me grief  because my boyfriend  will not come to church  to see them  and my boyfriend is upset with me . All I want  is for them  to revolve  peacefully in  my universe  and need your health  to find a happy  medium .
What a Girl Wants
Dear What a Girl Wants ,
I am sure  you know  that religion  can be a stumbling block  for young love  . Your parents want to see  what your boyfriend is made of  and they are trying to control  their meeting  to that end . That  would not be strategy . I would choose  straight  out the gate . There is time to meet  him , get to know him  a bit  and talk about religion rather than force him into a religious environment .
Ask your parents and your boyfriend  to reach a truce  . Suggest to your  parents  that they meet him at their home  for the first visit . Tell your boyfriend  that you  do want him  to visit  your parents church  at least once . Tell everyone  that it is very important to you that  they all meet . Ask for thier hearts  to help  soften the way .
Know that if you two  get serious , you will need  to adress  how you will handle  your religious  differences .
Maxy

Dear Maxy ,
As a 34-year-old employee of the U.S. Postal Service  , it gets old  hearing  it referred  to as "snail mail."
Please do not encourage  your readers  to use it  if you can't call it by its proper name .
Disappointed
Dear Disappointed ,
I really  appreciate  your note .. It has  become so easy  to be unconsciously dismissive  of the traditional  delivery  of mail  through  the United States  Postal Service . Your words  serve  as a wake-up call  to be respectedful  of this treasured  agency of our  country  that has  for so many  generations kept us in touch with each other .
Now that the internet  seems to be king  and other courier  options  promise to deliver more quickly , the value of the USPS has  diminished  ... hence  the moniker "snail mail," whish I was not meaning  in a disparaging  way . I understand  that it implies  less-than-competent  service . So , my sincere apology !
Maxy