Our friend is in danger of losing her whole bridal party. How do we help her see reason?

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Dear Prudie,
Early next year, I will be a bridesmaid for a close college friend's wedding. As the date moves closer, the bride is acting in uncharacteristic ways that are beginning to hurt her friendships. Two other close college friends are in the party, both of whom have become pregnant since agreeing to participate. On the wedding date, one will have a month-old infant and one will be seven-and-a-half months pregnant. Both were honest with the bride early on that they were trying to get pregnant, and in both cases she did not hesitate to express her extreme unhappiness about the situation. Each has offered to not participate or to serve in a less central role, which was met with an even unhappier response. The bride's demands, which include not wanting them to wear maternity dresses or have the baby in the room where we're getting ready, are becoming more irrational and the other bridesmaids are becoming increasingly unhappy with her. I am slightly more protected, living far away, but there have been some significant financial requests beyond what I've encountered in the past as a bridesmaid. Is there a way to kindly steer her back to the land of reason without giving the impression that we don't understand the importance of this day for her?

—Annoyed Friend

Dear Annoyed,
How thoughtless of the other bridesmaids not to take a vow of celibacy during the year plus of planning for the wedding. Now that they have been so derelict in their duties, they must consider how to make amends. The one who will have the baby at the time of the wedding should consider giving it up for adoption so she won't be distracted by having to nurse the child. The seven-and-a-half months pregnant bridesmaid should have a premature, induced delivery. This will allow her to wear a regular bridesmaid's dress and leave the infant behind in the ICU. As for you, why don't you just give your friend your bank account PIN so she can access your funds without having to bother you with specific requests for money. Alternatively, the three of you could get together, agree to have one of you act as a spokesmaid, and explain to the bride that she's planning a wedding day, not D-Day. Unless she is able to get a grip on her obstetric and financial demands, all of you will have to decline the honor of serving as her attendants.

—Prudie

Dear Prudence,
My family just moved in to a lovely townhouse and we have a lovely next-door neighbor. She is a mature, genteel lady who lives by herself and by most measures presents herself as the ideal neighbor: She sends over cookies when she's baking, collects newspapers when we are away for the weekend, offers to cat-sit, and so on. We have thanked her with cards and small gifts. This would be a rosy story of communal bliss but for one thing—our lovely neighbor, who is white, constantly makes reference to our race (black) in subtle or not-so-subtle ways: "The last owner lived here with a big black guy. He was nice, but they weren't married," she said once to my husband. "I really admire Colin Powell. I have his book, but I hadn't read it, but now …," she said on another occasion. "I heard that Tiger Woods won the British Open today, what do you think about that?" she asked my 8-year-old son. He just smiled quizzically and nodded. My child will have to smile and nod enough in his life because of the ignorance of people who ought to know better, or people who do know better but don't behave well. Certainly, this woman's conversational repertoire is fairly innocuous, but I am tired of her racial references. Do I withdraw from an obviously lonely but sweet woman, or try to teach an old, well, you know …

—Wary Neighbor

Dear Wary,
I checked in with Karen Grigsby Bates, co-author of The New Basic Black, an etiquette guide for African-Americans, about this. She says that while recognizing how far this elderly woman has probably come in her life in regard to race, instead of withdrawing from her, help her come a little further. By constantly mentioning prominent blacks, she is trying to demonstrate how enlightened she is and that she considers you to be special black people, too. Grigsby Bates says one day, when your son is not home, invite your neighbor over for tea. Let her know how much your family appreciates having her next door and how grateful you are for all her help. But tell her there's something that's been making you uncomfortable, and you're sure she can address it. Explain that you would appreciate it if she kept references to race out of the conversation unless they're totally germane. Say that you know she is pointing out positive examples of black people to show she's not prejudiced, but bringing this up so frequently has the opposite effect. Then reiterate how lucky you feel to have her for a neighbor.

—Prudie

Prudence,
Internet dating is very popular these days and of course works well if you are honest in communicating with the person on the other end. I have a walking disability, but for the most part am very mobile. I play basketball, I swim, ride a bike, etc. Since my handicap is not visible to the women I talk to on the Internet, how would you recommend I bring it up? Tell them beforehand, or just wait until we meet?