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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 13, 2015)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015 FEATURES 5A Take the offer, deal with fallout Tomorrow’s horoscope By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. Dear Annie: I am a disabled single mother of two, and I work part time. We live in a modest mobile home that is becoming too difficult for me to maintain. The hard winter resulted in frequent frozen water pipes, no heat and high utility bills. My parents have offered to purchase a house for us, and I would only have to pay the tax- es. The problem is my sister, who lives out of state with a well-off husband. She does not agree with my parents’ generous offer and is very critical of me. This makes things uncomfortable. She will demand that my parents make a similar offer to her, which she certainly does not need. Our parents have helped my sister in the past, including an ex- travagant wedding. Should I re- fuse the offer in order to keep the minimal peace I have with her? — Desperate Times Dear Desperate: Please do not make this an issue between you and your sister. It is between your parents and your sister. She begrudges you this house because she believes her parents favor you, and that, for whatever rea- son, you don’t deserve it. She doesn’t see the things your par- Annie’s Mailbox Creators Syndicate Inc. Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar ents have done for her as equally fair. You have two children who need a stable home, so we say take the offer, but do your best to maintain it responsibly and repay your parents over time. Your sister accomplishes noth- ing by preventing you from ac- cepting this deal, except perhaps the satisfaction of knowing that she has power over the family’s decisions. Let your parents dis- cuss it with her and deal with the fallout. Dear Annie: I’d like to re- spond to “Baffled in Boston,” the recently widowed woman whose longtime dear friends are now ad- vising her on everything, despite the widow’s competence. She first needs to understand that there has been a change in her relationship with these friends. They’re not accustomed to deal- ing with an adult who lacks a partner, so they are treating her like a child. She needs to show them that the loss of her husband didn’t turn her into a 5-year-old. She should go line dancing, join a political group, teach a class or take up skydiving — do some- thing adult that she enjoys, and talk about it when her friends are with her and offer to share it with them. Ask them about their activities. Help them to see that adults can live alone and remain competent, and that her widow- hood has not changed her into anything less. Chances are that one of these people will face the same loss someday. If “Baffled” can show them how to continue on before they need to face that time, they will probably find it easier to ac- cept her widowhood without fear. — Someone Who Has Spent a Lot of Adult Years Alone Dear Someone: There is a great deal of wisdom in what you say. And we think it’s a terrific idea for her to share her activities with them, letting them see how well she is managing on her own. Thanks. 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 ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your motiva- tion is high. Your enthusiastic desire to really go for it will produce fans. The positive feed- back you receive will make you feel eager to do even more. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your mood will be better when you make clean delinea- tions between the different parts of your life. At work, work. When not at work, shake off the seriousness and have fun with your “at home” persona. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Be happy now. It may be as simple as commanding yourself to do it. Some days you are more amenable to your own suggestions than other days, and this is one of them. CANCER (June 22-July 22). In order to succeed at an aim, you have to be in love with not only the aim, but also the process required to get to it. Today’s information will get you closer to understanding the process- es that you truly enjoy. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ve made some of your dreams happen, and others didn’t work out — but that’s not the point. Some dreams are only good for getting you up, out and into the flow of life. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You are great with details, keeping people on track and un- derstanding what needs to be done and the order in which it would be best accomplished. You’ll be paid well for applying these skills. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). People who say that anything can happen for those who are unrelentingly positive have as unrealistic a view of life as the nihilists who think life is essentially meaningless. Avoid both groups as you embrace the day’s range of emotions. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Profound statements will be made in silence. It’s your timing that will make the communication understandable to another person. You are especially adept at connecting with Cancer and Pisces people. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). When you are moved by an event or touched by beauty, that’s your soul speaking up. But it’s not the only way your soul communicates. Today it speaks through your curiosity about a subject. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There’s an overall sense that someone has to do something about the situation. The difference between you and the others involved is that you pretty much assume that “someone” is you. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your pos- ture, body language and clothing will send the message that you command respect even before you open your mouth to talk. If you needed a legitimate reason to go shoe shopping, let this be it. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The faster you go the more mistakes you are likely to make. But going slow has costs, too. Your success will depend on a team of people whose strengths and weaknesses balance out. TUESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (April 14). You’ll gain supportive relationships as you pursue a new interest. It doesn’t matter where you start on this project; it just matters that you do. Bad plans will lead to better ones. A major purchase in May will feel like a victory. Natural environments light your fire in July. Family will help you in business in September. Aquari- us and Gemini people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 40, 49, 22 and 18.