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.