DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is the proper response to someone who is very vocal when you are driving, and not in a way that is helpful? For example, when I am driving us to a restaurant and we pull into the parking lot, they will tell me I could have used a closer entrance. (I may or may not have seen the other entrance, but either way, it really didn’t matter.) Or when parking, they will speak up about every parking space I pass. (I like parking spaces with adequate room around them. Plus, walking a little farther doesn’t hurt anyone.)

I have more than one friend who does these things every time I drive, and it is really getting on my nerves. My typical response is a casual, “I know what I’m doing,” to which I’ll receive a somewhat snarky response about saving time. (Seriously, like 10 seconds?)

Is there something else I should be saying?

GENTLE READER: “Let’s make a rule: When I am driving -- unless I’m about to run someone over -- I get to navigate and figure out parking. When you drive, you can.”

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I loathe dogs, but I live in a dog-lover's paradise. How can I let neighbors and strangers know that I don’t want to pet their dog or let it sniff me?

"I’m allergic" is dishonest. "I don’t like dogs" sounds like something is wrong with me. "Dogs just aren’t my thing" is not very clear.

I survived an abusive childhood where my parents sicced dogs on me, but I should not have to explain this.

I get it that people love their pets and consider them "family," and I don’t mind standing around and chatting with the dogs present. I just don't want to get closer.

What can I say that politely gets pet owners to, well, call off the dogs?

GENTLE READER: “I’m afraid that dogs and I don’t always get along. If you don’t mind, I will keep my distance.” We must hope that the implication that the dogs keep theirs, as well, is understood.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband insists on getting up to start cleaning the kitchen and doing the dishes the minute he takes his last bite of dinner. Often, I am still eating. I have frequently asked for the 15-minute rule: no cleaning up, no doing dishes and no putting the food away until 15 minutes after everyone is done eating.

I work all day and often come home to make dinner. Having to finish my meal with dishes clanging in the kitchen, the dishwasher opening and shutting and the refrigerator opening repeatedly is not relaxing.

I have tried to tell my husband that it’s just bad manners to start cleaning up the meal when people are still eating it.

GENTLE READER: Yes, it is. But a 15-minute respite also seems extreme. Perhaps you can get your husband to agree to let you finish your dinner, at least.

Then, if he is going to offer to clean up, Miss Manners suggests you thank him (as he will undoubtedly have thanked you for making dinner) -- and retire to another room to avoid all that clanging.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Fifteen minutes after arriving at an informal family get-together at someone’s home, a relative took a phone call. She stepped out of the room where everyone was gathered and could be heard down the hall talking for the next 45 minutes.

This kind of thing seems to happen rather often. Am I alone in viewing it as inconsiderate? Do the circumstances -- family gathering, informal, children/grandchildren calling -- make it acceptable?

GENTLE READER: A short phone call from family at informal family gatherings is, Miss Manners supposes, acceptable. As long as it starts with, “Hi honey, I’m at Aunt Claudia’s house. Is it urgent? Otherwise, I’ll call you back” and (barring an emergency) ends quickly.

But if the urgency turns out to be, say, what to name the new pet rabbit, the call should be postponed in favor of talking to those who are present.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I will soon be attending my 50th law school reunion. I expect that, at least once, I will be in the company of a certain married couple, as both people were law school classmates of mine.

This couple “adores” each other, very publicly. They exchange loving glances, mild caresses and light kisses at every opportunity, in every venue.

I find their behavior inappropriate. Is there a polite way to ask them to stop?

GENTLE READER: No. Miss Manners supposes the charm that this couple is still so in love -- or at least eager to counter divorce rumors -- after decades of marriage is lost on you.

If it irritates you beyond polite tolerance, you may say, “Ah! I see another classmate. I’ll leave you two alone to enjoy each other’s company.”

DEAR MISS MANNERS: As a 12-year-old, I wear makeup, but my grandfather thinks differently: He thinks the appropriate age to start wearing makeup is 16. I think that is just preposterous! What do you think?

GENTLE READER: That it is up to the guardians with whom you live. If that is your grandfather, Miss Manners is afraid you are out of luck.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I live in a building with a security system and buzzers. My neighbors buy everything online, often receiving three or more packages a day. As they are rarely home, the delivery people ring my buzzer, too.

I accepted a package for them once, and it was a thankless task trying to get them to retrieve it. Now I don’t answer my buzzer, but I worry that one day, someone ringing it might actually want me.

Can I put a sticker saying “NOT ACCEPTING DELIVERIES FOR ANYBODY EXCEPT ME” next to my name on the buzzer?

GENTLE READER: No, but you may have a talk with building management about how to handle what must be a common annoyance for the other tenants, as well. A private intercom system, perhaps, or a secure code for trusted delivery services.

But if there’s nothing to be done and you cannot imagine a time where you yourself might be absent and in need, a sign saying, “Please buzz only the package recipient” would at least be more polite phrasing.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We live in a small beach community. Five years ago, we met a lovely couple who have a vacation home across the street. We are all semi-retired. They are both gourmet chefs and entertainers, and invite us over about eight times a year.

It’s always fun. They also invite other couples for dinner throughout the year on other nights.

We usually take them some small gift of flowers or a book, and have taken them out on three different occasions, but we aren’t the same level of skilled chefs, and the layout of their house works better for gatherings.

I’ve talked to them many times about taking them out to reciprocate, but they say "no need" and seem happiest as the hosts. Should I just accept that? It seems like we owe them something for their generosity.

GENTLE READER: While one is not absolutely required to reciprocate in kind, some form of reciprocation to hospitality is only polite.

Miss Manners agrees that you are not required to chase them down the street with takeout menus, but general expressions of intent are not invitations. "We would love to take you out sometime," if abandoned at the first “Really, there is no need,” is not a proper invitation.

If you keep accepting their dinner invitations, you will have to issue real invitations of your own -- such as, “We would love to take you to dinner at Maxim’s. How is next Friday or Saturday?”

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a friend who retells the same stories over and over and over again. It’s like he cannot recall telling them to me before, or he just wants to re-experience them himself -- and who cares whether I have to hear them again.

I don’t know. It makes me feel very irritated. I have tried gently indicating that I have already heard that story. But that has not helped. Today, my “irritation-pot” boiled over, and I snapped at him, telling him that I had already heard that story, including the circumstances in which he last told it to me.

He went silent and did not respond to my snapping comment, so I am left wondering whether he understood what I was saying -- that his retelling stories irritates me.

We are both guys, and we don’t talk about feelings -- I believe that is common for men. I’m left wondering what to do about this.

GENTLE READER: Expressing your feelings as you did was what got you in trouble, and you are going to need to apologize for that.

After that, Miss Manners recommends diplomacy, humor and patience: Most people repeat themselves sometimes, usually out of habit or carelessness -- not with the intention to hurt or annoy someone. Keep that in mind the next time you say you've already heard that one, so that you can smile and, without rancor, change the subject.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is the polite way to have a conversation during meals? I do not mean formal dinners, just ordinary family dinners or lunch with friends. On the one hand, we cannot talk with our mouths full. On the other, eating in silence misses the point of a shared meal, no?

GENTLE READER: Say something. Between bites, that is.

(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)