FEATURES
6A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015
Times of friendliness are few
Tomorrow’s horoscope
Dear Annie: My sister’s son, “Jared,”
lives close to us but far from his mother. We
always invite them to family get-togethers,
but are never sure whether they will show
up. Sometimes they don’t respond, some-
times they show up without responding,
and sometimes they call at the last minute
to say they are sick and can’t come.
Jared was raised by my sister and her
second husband. When my sister comes to
visit Jared, his wife, “Claire,” stays in her
room. She doesn’t come out to say hello
or goodbye. The excuse is that she’s “not
well.” My sister only comes three times
a year for a couple of days because she
wants to see their grandchildren. Claire
does nothing for the kids. Her parents, who
live with them, take care of the children.
Jared’s biological father has been out
of his life since he was a child. But a few
years ago, a biological aunt looked up
my nephew and contacted Claire. Ever
since, Claire has been friendly to the
bio-dad’s family, inviting them over and
spending holidays with them. But she
totally ignores our side of the family.
There are periodic episodes of al-
most bizarre friendliness from Claire,
and we always eagerly respond to these
moments, but they are few and far be-
tween and never result in closer ties.
We’ve been told that Claire has a won-
derful, outgoing personality at work. But
with us, she barely communicates. She
and Jared don’t socialize with friends, ei-
ARIES (March 21-April 19). In business,
if a vendor charges significantly lower than
competitors, the item or service will be
considered “cheap.” Whatever you offer
today, check out the going rate and price
accordingly.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You may
feel that your talents and passions are not
being properly utilized in your current po-
sition, and yet today’s activities only high-
light a narrow aspect of the entire job. Be
patient.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Some people
so strongly identify with being a victim that
they will unconsciously sabotage whatever
good comes into their experience. This is
why you shouldn’t take it personally if your
help doesn’t really seem to help.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You hate
goodbyes, and yet they have to happen
to move on to the next chapter. Cheerful
and short will be best, with the additional
clause of “Until next time ... “
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Even though you
take the needs and wants of those around
you into consideration, the one who will be
most affected by your next move is you. Act
accordingly.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Good news:
there is no salvation in the future. Salvation
is in the present. Forgive and save. This is
the order of the moment. Liberate yourself;
do it now.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Love cannot
flourish without space. Some need it more
than others. Your sensitivity to the spatial
requirements of others (emotional and
physical) will make you a most desirable
friend and partner.
know what they want and can’t afford
much. My wife does a great job pur-
chasing clothing and toys, but they don’t
seem terribly happy to open the pres-
Creators
ents. We still have a gift in our house for
Syndicate Inc.
one great-granddaughter because her
parents don’t care enough to pick it up.
Kathy Mitchell
Of course, none of the adult grandchil-
and
dren has ever purchased us a gift.
Marcy Sugar
What is a solution for people our age
whose gift-buying increases every year
ther. I think Claire may suffer from depres- and the recipients don’t seem to appreciate
sion or bipolar disease. I realize it is Jared’s it? I told my wife that maybe we should
place to speak up, but he’s very noncon- give a donation in their name. — Grandpa
frontational and becomes defensive.
Dear Grandpa: A donation is love-
What is the best way to handle Jared ly, provided they don’t object to the
and Claire? My sister just accepts the charity you have selected. Or give each
situation because she can’t do anything child a tin of Grandma’s special cookies
about it. — Illinois Aunt
or Grandpa’s favorite tea. Great-grand-
Dear Aunt: Your sister is right. When children can be “given” an evening with
you cannot change an unpleasant situa- you, popcorn and a rented movie. Please
tion, you need to step back, lower your don’t go broke trying to please kids who
expectations and let it go. Claire is rude don’t know how to be grateful.
and disrespectful, and she is nicer to the
Dear Annie: This is for “Uncle
bio-family because they are less connect- Joe,” the 88-year-old mentally ill uncle
ed to Jared and therefore less threatening whose sister insists that he be invited to
to her. You certainly have reason to stop holiday gatherings. The key message is:
inviting them over, but if you would rath- “He ruins it for everybody.” If he refus-
er continue seeing Jared and his children, es help, leave him out and tell him why.
you will have to tolerate Claire.
I was 70 years old before I was diag-
Dear Annie: My wife and I are nosed with bipolar disorder and depres-
75, with children, grandchildren and sion. I was put on the right medication
great-grandchildren. We are still paying and never looked back. It is not too late
off our credit card bills from Christmas. for Joe, but if he is too stubborn for treat-
,W¶VGLI¿FXOWIRUXVWRVKRS:HGRQ¶W ment, leave him home. — Been There
Annie’s
Mailbox
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
STONE SOUP
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Addictive
temptations are more dangerous than they
seem. The best tactic is to stay away com-
pletely. Why make it harder on yourself?
Avoid potential trouble by walking the other
way.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Em-
bracing only the parts of you that you think
are acceptable and/or desirable will dimin-
ish your power. Awesome power comes
from embracing the good, the bad and the
ugly.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). What
if you came at life like you had nothing to
prove? What would you do differently? To
be content in oneself “as is” is of life’s great-
est satisfactions. Stop the striving for a day,
or better yet for a month.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You can
devote yourself to others with no loss to
yourself. You may experience a loss of ego,
and that may hurt, but loss of ego is not the
same as loss of self.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Feeling un-
equipped? It’s not true! You have enough
and you are enough. Anyway, purchases
made out of insecurity will always be fol-
lowed by buyer’s regret.
THURSDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 29).
Even though it’s your birthday, you want to
solve, heal or fix something before you’re
really in the celebrating mood. You’ll do it
over the next three weeks, and then you’ll
be ready for an adventure involving a dear
friend and a big project. March and June
are the most romantic months. April is
home-makeover time. Aquarius and Aries
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 41, 3,
33, 35 and 9.