The New York Times

ACROSS

1 Hatchling

6 Line crosser, of a sort 10 Component of a cellphone bill 14 World capital that’s home to the Temple of Literature, built in 1070

15 Show up 16 Blue-violet shade 17 Crime investigated by an insurance company 18 “Strike three!” or “Yer out!”?

20 Sit (down) heavily 21 Noisy shouting 22 Way to catch a conger?

24 Alley prowler 29 It’s used in soapmaking 30 Input

33 One of four in the human heart 34 Mo. with a holiday on its final day 35 Loser at Waterloo 37 The main characters of “Brokeback Mountain,” e.g.? 41 Resisting

42 Uno y uno 43 Apple centers 44 “Darn it!” 46 When the Kentucky Derby is held

49 Breaks things off

51 Drinking buddy? 53 Fixate

56 Spot

57 Gross messages? 61 “___ World” (“Sesame Street” segment) 62 Princess who says “You’re my only hope” in a hologram 63 Number of M.V.P. awards won by Wayne Gretzky 64 Kind of beer … or a multi-word hint to 18-, 22-, 37-, 51and 57-Across 65 Rich soil 66 Temperance proponents 67 Slyly spiteful

DOWN

1 Place of worship 2 Road hog? 3 Foot support 4 Appropriate 5 Clan

6 Bulk up, as muscles 7 Out-of-it state 8 Toggle on a clock 9 Make drunk, quaintly

10 Run out of juice 11 “___ You My Mother?” (children’s book) 12 Personal quirk 13 “Green,” “black” or “white” tree

19 Cheese in an Italian sub

21 “I refuse to believe that!” 23 Economic downturn 25 Places to find food courts and kiosks 26 Miss ___, famed TV psychic 27 Profess

28 Till compartment 31 Furnish with money

32 Mil. branch of the U.K.

34 Fiona and Shrek, for two 36 Cycles 37 Speed 38 Door-to-door sales company 39 Homework lover, say

40 Helpful info for a curbside pickup, briefly

45 Society at large, with “the”

46 Big, bushy-tailed squirrel

47 Went to a restaurant

48 Like some breads and beers 50 Long-term U.S. security 52 European country with a cross on its flag

54 Tend to the sauce, say

55 “___, meeny, miney, mo …” 57 “___ say!” 58 Bus. driver? 59 Sportage automaker 60 Crosp item grown in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” 61 Key that exits fullscreen video

Everyyearduring this time I step away from my column to work on other creative projects. I hope you enjoy these “Best Of” Q&A from 10 years ago. Today’s topic is: “Germ Donors!”

I also invite readers to subscribe to my weekly “Asking Amy” newsletter, at Amydickinson.substack. com, where I post advice, as well as commentary about what I’m reading, watching, and listening to.

I’ll be back with fresh Q&A next week.

DEAR AMY >> I’ve been happily married for two years. I am grateful for my inlaws’ kindness and enjoy their company. The problem is my mother-in-law’s cooking. She does not wash her hands!

I have caught her putting her fingers in food, licking her fingers and putting her fingers back in the same dish.

During our Christmas visit, she and I prepared leftovers. She “re-mashed” the potatoes with her bare hands, without ever washing her hands!

My husband and I are disgusted.

Is there any way to bring this to her attention without hurting her feelings?

Idonotwantto cause conflict, but I am mortified to think of the germs inthefoodshe serves us.

— Grossed Out

DEAR GROSSED OUT >> This is extremely unappetizing, not to mention unhealthy. If your motherin-law handled uncooked chicken or shellfish and then plunged her unwashed hands directly into a bowl of mashed potatoes, for instance, this could crosscontaminate foods and spread food-borne illness. If you were pregnant and contracted Listeria from these unsanitary practices, it could be disastrous.

The CDC offers recommendations for safe food handling practices — and washing utensils and hands are paramount (cdc.gov). Try saying: “Mom, I’m very concerned about handwashing in the kitchen. Can you help me out here? I feel like I can’t eat comfortably unless the cook washes her hands often. I love your cooking, but I can’t eat after I’ve seen your hands in thefood.”

(January 2011)

DEAR AMY >> My husband and I frequent a local restaurant every week. We have been going to this place sometimes two or three times a week for the last four years.

There is one waitress who insists on serving us. She is good at her job, but every time she greets us, she kisses us on our lips.

It makes me very uncomfortable. I have mentioned to her a few times that I have a cold and so “no kisses for me,” but then thenexttimewegoin,she does it again!

— Diner in a Dilemma

DEAR DINER >> The only thing left to do is to tell this person, “I apologize because I should have told you a long time ago, but I really don’t like to be kissed when we come in. It makes me very uncomfortable. I hope you understand.” If she won’t respect this boundary, you should mention this to the manager.

(March 2011)