Dear Annie: My friend sent me a food delivery gift, but I never received it

Dear Annie: Shortly after my daughter’s surgery, I received a text notification that I had received a food delivery gift from a friend. This text came directly from the delivery service, with a photo of the delivery sitting at my front door. The trouble was, it wasn’t my front door. The package was left elsewhere!

What would be the polite way to address this? Of course I want to thank the gifter, but should I let them know I never actually got the gift? I’d feel bad having them put even more effort into their gift, as I know those delivery services can be a real hassle. And I wouldn’t expect them to buy it again. — Signed but Not Delivered

Dear Signed but Not Delivered: No one said modern gifting was easy. First and foremost, express your gratitude to your friend. Tell them how much you appreciate the gift and how much the kind gesture meant to you. Make that the primary message of your note. As an aside, you can add that the food delivery service bungled your address, but assure your friend that you care more about the gesture than the food so they don’t feel compelled to get involved with customer service.

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“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].