FEATURES
8A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015
Should mom change her trust?
Tomorrow’s horoscope
Dear Annie: I am an 83-year-
old widow in good health. My
daughter lives about two hours
away. She is 50 and well edu-
cated and has been in a long-
term relationship with an older
retired man. She does a lot of
care-giving for him and his fam-
ily members.
Three years ago, my daughter
lost her job during an economic
downturn and has made no at-
tempt to find other employment.
I have been giving her mon-
ey every month and paid for a
course in massage therapy, but
she has not attempted to find a
job in that field. She received
insurance money to repair her
home when it flooded over the
winter, but she hasn’t done the
repairs. Instead, she camps out
at her boyfriend’s apartment.
When I ask, she will come help
me with certain things.
She is my only child, and
there are no other close rela-
tives. I am not wealthy, but am
comfortable. My daughter will
inherit trust money and my house
when I die, and this bothers me.
I don’t want what my husband
and I worked and planned for to
eventually go to her boyfriend
and his family. I am thinking of
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ll find a
problem, and you’ll upgrade it. That’s not
the same as solving it, but it’s fine for now.
This is just a temporary fix to make your
time with this problem more comfortable.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Great peo-
ple are courteous, generous and selfless.
Those posing as great people may be full
of ego and pride and in need of attention.
Differentiate and associate accordingly.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You don’t
need advice and reassurance to make de-
cisions, because you have the confidence
to assume responsibility for the major ar-
eas of your life.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Try not to
judge other people’s relationships. And if
they are so happy it makes you sick, don’t
be cynical. But don’t be an idealist, either.
Happily-ever-afters are seldom that. Some-
times they smack of poisoned apples.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). When the plan
changes, you change, too. Going with the
flow is usually the right way. Your flexibility
will be appreciated — although, don’t wor-
ry, they sense that you’re also pretty tough
if the situation calls for it.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your smile
casts a spell. You usually use that power for
good, but sometimes it helps you do some-
thing against the rules, which also can be
good. Some rules are made to be broken.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Your loved
ones will rise to the occasion, as long as
they know what’s expected of them. You’ll
have to lay it out clearly, and once you do,
you may be surprised at what you’re really
needing from them.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You want
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
changing the trust, leaving her a
fixed amount and giving the rest
to a charity. Are there other al-
ternatives? — A.
Dear A.: There are always
alternatives. You could leave
your daughter the house and
trust only under certain con-
ditions, in order to exclude
the boyfriend and his family,
although that won’t necessar-
ily change how your daughter
chooses to live her life. But
there is also nothing wrong
with giving some (or all) of
your money to a charity that
would appreciate it. Please talk
to an estate attorney, who will
help you figure out the various
possibilities and put them in
writing.
Dear Annie: I need to know
whether I was out of line. My
husband and I have been friends
with “Nancy” for years. Last
Christmas, she sent us pajamas
as a gift. I called her and left a
message saying we have nev-
er worn pajamas, and not only
that, but I am not a size 3x. I
wrote her a note and told her I
returned the pajamas for some-
thing I like better.
We haven’t heard from her
or her husband since. Was I im-
proper? Is this a reason to end a
long friendship? — C.
Dear C.: When someone
gives you a gift, you don’t tell
them you dislike it, it’s the
wrong size, you never wear
such things or that you had to
return it. It sounds rude and un-
grateful, and we don’t believe
you intended to come across
that way. Instead, you sim-
ply say, “Thank you for your
thoughtfulness. It was kind of
you to remember us.” And then
you get to do whatever you like
with the gift.
If you value this friendship
and want to mend fences, call
or write Nancy. Say that you
are terribly sorry to have been
so ill mannered when thank-
ing them for their gift, and you
hope they will forgive you. We
hope they will, too.
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.
to meet up with old and new friends, and
the secret to doing so is simple: Ask them.
Stick out your hand and your heart. Invite
them over and into your world.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Most
people don’t lie without a reason. The key
to honest relationships is to make it OK for
the other person to tell the truth. Your loved
ones will go to great lengths not to invoke
your anger or sadness.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Peo-
ple have different tastes and tolerances.
One person’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel
is another person’s one-star review. Steer
clear of topics that are likely to highlight the
differences between you and your cohorts.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Gen-
tly holding people accountable for their
actions is a sign of love. When someone
doesn’t do what he or she intends to do,
and you ask about it, you’re showing that
you’re paying attention.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Perspec-
tive shifts can be gradual, but the one you
experience today will be abrupt. You won’t
have time to get used to your new view of
things, but you can accept it fully just the
same if you drop your defenses.
WEDNESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (May 6).
As you grow, your world changes. That’s
why this year requires constant, ongoing
reassessment. You’ll add new supporters
to your team in June. The kind of effort
you put into a relationship this summer
is new for you and will open you to more
joy. September and November bring the
best financial opportunities. Capricorn and
Scorpio people adore you. Your lucky num-
bers are: 45, 2, 14, 39 and 50.