Classic Ann Landers, March 16

Dear Ann Landers: I am a postal clerk, and every day, I see many cards, letters and packages sent to our mail recovery center (formerly known as the dead letter branch) because people do not put return addresses on the items they mail.

I find it disturbing when mail that is undeliverable cannot be returned to the senders to let them know it didn't reach its destination. Think of the thank you notes, love letters, invitations and condolence cards that never got delivered because of illegible addresses. And imagine the hard feelings, disappointment, misunderstandings and broken relationships that resulted because senders didn't take the time to write their return addresses. When there is no acknowledgment of having received the gift, the sender assumes the recipient has poor manners.

This problem could be remedied so easily. Return address labels are inexpensive, and it takes only a minute to affix them. Please, Ann, do your readers and the Postal Service a favor by printing this letter. It really IS important. — Concerned Postal Clerk in N. Dakota

Dear N. Dakota: I know a little something about mail and can sympathize with you. I hope your letter produces the desired results. Please, dear readers, pay attention to what this postal clerk is saying. It takes just a minute to print your return address in the upper left corner of the envelope or package or slap on the sticker. DO IT!

Dear Ann Landers: I recently gave a dinner party. I prefer to serve my guests myself and tried to be emphatic about it, but one guest insisted on "helping" me. I know "Lola" was only trying to be useful, but she was getting in my way. I asked her nicely several times to sit down and stay out of the kitchen, but she followed me around and insisted on giving me a hand.

To get her off my back, I asked her to take a creamer into the dining room and place it on the table. Well, she dropped it on the tile floor, shattering the handle and spilling the cream all over the place. Lola then had the nerve to say that good china like mine is really just for show, and I should not have been using it.

My great-grandmother's creamer is, of course, irreplaceable, but I am going to get another china handle crafted onto it. Should I send Lola the bill? — Slow Burn in Pasadena, Calif.

Dear Slow Burn: Stick your toe in the water for testing. Tell Lola you've found a place that will mend the creamer, and ask whether she would like the bill. My guess is she will be happy to pay it. It will ease her conscience and cool your anger.

Looking for an uplifting, quick read? "A Collection of My Favorite Gems of the Day" contains hand-picked jokes and witticisms from the world over. Send a self-addressed, long, business-sized envelope and a check or money order for $5.25 (this includes postage and handling) to: Collection, c/o Ann Landers, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. To find out more about Ann Landers and read her past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

ANN LANDERS (R)

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.