THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2015
FEATURES
Tomorrow’s horoscope
Wife of 50 years wants out
Dear Annie: I have been mar-
ried for 50 years and don’t think I
can stand one more day. The man I
am married to was once everything
to me. Now, as each day passes, I
grow more resentful. I like him less
and less, almost to the point of ha-
tred.
He has always been a good pro-
vider. He worked while I stayed at
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Back then, I would never have
expected him to come home and
help around the house. But things
are different now. It’s just the two
of us and our animals. We are in
our mid-70s, and I am still doing
all of the work inside this large
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help with anything. He lies on the
sofa and channel surfs while I do
everything.
There is nothing physically
wrong with him. His doctor says
he’s in great shape. He shows
no sign of mental decline, either.
Downsizing to a smaller home
is not an option for him. He likes
it here. I have told him how I feel
time and again, and that I’d like
his help around the house, but he
just looks at me. Maybe he wants a
divorce and is too cowardly to ver-
balize it. In any event, I am past the
point of caring. I just want out. —
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
Old and Trapped
Dear Trapped: Your husband
may not want out. He may simply
want to sit on the sofa while you
do all the work. And you are doing
it, so he sees no reason to change.
You have some options: You can
stop doing the cooking, cleaning
and laundry for him, letting his
clothes pile up and his food remain
uncooked; you can look into hiring
help; you can get counseling; you
can seek legal counsel and leave,
with or without a divorce. If your
husband values the marriage, he
will step up. If he doesn’t, at least
you will know and can plan your
future accordingly.
Dear Annie: After reading the
letter from “Need Some Relief,”
I thought I’d share how our fam-
ily handles Christmas with four
adult children and their spouses, 13
grandchildren and 3 great-grand-
children (and an occasional visiting
in-law).
Dinner is at our house every
year. Everyone participates by gra-
ciously bringing a dish. One son’s
family prepares the turkey, with
mashed potatoes and gravy. Anoth-
er brings all the drinks. We prepare
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potatoes. Others bring apple and
pumpkin pies. Traditional!
We discuss dishes in advance,
so there are no duplicates. It is such
fun and each family feels good
about sharing. New recipes are ex-
changed. We also decided to forego
gift-giving and do a $5 Christmas
exchange. We all sit in a circle
holding our “special number,” anx-
iously awaiting our turn to pick the
wrapped gift of our choice.
Even the little ones screamed
with delight, not at the gift, but be-
cause everyone was laughing and
clapping. What a joyous occasion.
Last, but not least, I insist on a
group picture with everyone hold-
ing up their prized possessions.
There is always a huge smile on
each face. Because in the end it is
being together that really matters.
— Happy in Florida
Dear Happy: Your letter is re-
freshing. This is what holidays are
all about. Or should be.
5A
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). The moon
warms your emotions and inspires you to
reveal a little more about yourself than you
normally would feel moved to do. Now the
question is, how much should you share?
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). There are
some gyms that claim to be a “no-judgment
zone,” thus catering to the self-conscious.
You’ve a “no-judgment zone” around your-
self right now. You don’t feel the need to
assess or be assessed by anyone.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). If you get it
right on the first try, that will make you hap-
py. You’ll have something to go on. If you
get it wrong at first, don’t despair. You will
become smarter learning from what you
do wrong.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Trust that
the less you do, the more desirable you
will be. This is a day to believe in your own
magnetism. Lie back and make fewer ef-
forts. Doing more will only make you less
attractive.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Too many choic-
es can be a bad thing for those who don’t
know themselves well enough to choose
what’s right for them. You do know yourself
well, so it’s no problem. Do what pleas-
es you — others will be thrilled with your
choice.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Under-
standing and compassion will go a long
way. Someone will afford you the kind of
graciousness that will inspire you to pay
it forward. You’ll have the opportunity very
soon.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You don’t have
an ideal view for figuring out the problem
yet. Astute observation usually requires a
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
different stance from the usual one. Either
you need to take a step back or you need
to rise above.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It may feel
as though you are only loved when you
meet a particular standard of achievement.
This isn’t true except for in certain (toxic)
relationships.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21).
Dreams of faraway places and exciting
new scenarios fill your consciousness.
Right now it’s about the dream. Later you’ll
make it real. Your gypsy soul will soon go
wandering again.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You are
in a brave mood today and might be willing
to share the very thing you avoided talking
about just last week. Unburdening yourself
will feel terrific.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Things
don’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful
to you. In a small and very personal way,
this will be a day of reckoning. Your lucky
associations will involve fellow air signs
(Gemini and Libra).
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There are
so many things you could be doing, but
none of them will appeal to you as much
as relaxing with your favorite person. Truly,
anything you do with your favorite will feel
like living the good life.
WEDNESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Nov. 25).
You’re learning how to be true to yourself
— to find out what you really need and
want instead of being quick to settle into
the roles that others cast for you. Decem-
ber and January bring financial opportu-
nities. Taurus and Libra adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 22, 49, 15, 38 and 2.