About Exa

Exa Stabley was born and raised here in Lamb's Corner and she has been a part of Lambert Square since the very beginning. She is employed at Cocoon as a retail consultant, expert seamstress, and dispenser of life's wisdom. Exa is one our famous Pajama Girls. Keep an eye out for her, she's the one who favors 50s style striped pajamas.

This week: Fruitcake Feuds

Dear Exa,

Last year my sister (who married into a lot of money) gave me one of those nasty old fruitcakes you buy at K-Mart, you know the kind I mean, hard enough to use as a hammer but not quite as tasty. And that was all she gave me. So here's my question. Could I wrap it back up and give it to her this year? How would she know? And even if she did, how could she complain?

Signed, Poorer than my Sister and Put Out in Aiken

Dear Poorer,

Well now you have got yourself a dilemma. If you wrap that brick up and give it right back to her, she certainly will notice. And then you'll have the makings of a fistfight on Chrismast morning, no less. Now, I've got the idea that the two of you have been yanking on each other's braids since you were old enough to talk, am I right about that? Things are about ready to blow, and that innocent old fruitcake could be the beginning of a family feud without end or Richard Dawson, neither.

You are too angry to just leave it be, so here's my suggestion.Get your sister alone before Christmas. Make sure none of the kids or husbands are around (and if your mama is still with us, make sure she's at least a good mile away), and hand over the misbegotten bakery goods. Then let it all hang out. It will feel good to speak your mind. As long as you know she'll be speaking hers, too.

Your confidante, Exa