The hostess with the most nerve

DEAR AMY: Did I break some kind of silent etiquette rule? I invited several of the ladies who work at my husband's office to a Tupperware-type party. Most either came to the party or at least purchased something ahead of time. One lady didn't RSVP, she didn't attend the party and she didn't purchase anything. Now she gives my husband the cold shoulder. He surmises that it is probably because we don't invite her to our regular parties (we do invite others from his office). He says she's probably angry because I only included her in this party, where there was an assumption of her buying something from me. I say he is full of beans. I see nothing wrong with inviting her to this type of party only. What do you say?Wondering in Wellington

DEAR WONDERING: Your husband presumes that his co-worker is so stung by being ignored socially by you that she is now snubbing you when you'd like to make money off of her.

I don't know if you've violated etiquette, but you definitely qualify as someone who has a lot of nerve.

You could safely interpret this woman's silence as a reason to take her off your solicitation list.

DEAR AMY: "Sexaphobe" wrote in, saying she is afraid of sex. She asked if it was normal to want to go on a date without being expected to have sex. You replied that she needs to courageously confront her fears about sex with professional help, but shouldn't she also know that she shouldn't feel pressure to have sex with someone just because they go out on a date?

A Reader

DEAR READER: I agree that no one should feel pressured to be sexual on a date. "Sexaphobe" said she was fearful of any contact - including holding hands. She described herself as "phobic," and I agreed.