THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015
FEATURES
5A
Traumatized by friend’s death Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Dear Annie: Recently, I in-
sisted a dear friend move into my
home so I could help him after he
was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
After a lengthy surgery, doctors
managed to remove it. Two weeks
later, I took him to a rustic cabin
retreat so he could rest.
The morning we were to leave
for home, I woke up and went to
open the front door, but it was
blocked. Apparently, my friend
had gone out earlier, tripped and
hit his head, and had died in front
of the door.
Since then, I haven’t been
able to eat or sleep. I don’t know
where to turn and am about to
have a breakdown. I can’t afford
therapy. Do you have any advice?
— Devastated in Ohio
Dear Ohio: We are so sorry
for your heartbreaking loss. You
thought your friend would be OK
and weren’t prepared for his sud-
den death. Please know that you
are not at all responsible for what
happened. It may even be that the
treatment of his tumor affected his
balance or visual focus, contribut-
ing to his tripping and falling.
Counseling will help you come
to terms with this, and it doesn’t
need to be costly. Check at the
hospital where your friend was
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
treated and ask whether they of-
fer grief counseling. You also can
discuss this with your clergyper-
son.
Dear Annie: It is summertime
again, so I thought I would put
in my two cents on what I want
friends and relatives to be aware
of when they come to my house
to swim. Because I’m the one
with the pool, I am often expect-
ed to host our family and friends,
which is fine. I enjoy it. But peo-
ple don’t realize how much work
it takes to make it ready to use.
Here are my suggestions:
1. Don’t show up early. Come
at the time suggested.
2. Please bring two towels per
person. You use one towel each
time you get out of the pool, and
when it’s wet, you borrow one
of mine. Most of the time, I nev-
er see that towel again. Bring a
spare.
3. Remember to take all your
stuff home with you and please
label everything you bring. I
don’t know which goggles, tow-
els, shirts or sunscreen are yours
when you come back a week later
looking for them.
4. If you bring food to one of
my pool parties, bring enough to
share. And if you want to con-
tribute to the meal I make, bring
something substantial. I resent
spending $75 on meat and you
show up with a bag of chips. And
bring drinks and ice. If there are
leftovers, take them with you. I
can’t store everything.
5. Watch your kids. I’m try-
ing to cook, carry on a conversa-
tion, maybe swim a bit, and your
precious child is running circles
around the pool. Don’t expect me
to keep an eye on the kids, too.
Have them obey my pool rules.
They’re for everyone’s safety.
There are probably more
things, but that’s enough to make
me feel better for now. — Swim-
ming Along
Dear Swimming: Everyone
has different expectations for
their pool guests, but your rules
are sensible, especially the last
one. Thanks for writing.
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). Maybe
you’ve had bad experiences in the past,
but now you’re due for a good one. An en-
ergizing flirtation may be among the day’s
treats. Even if you’re in a committed rela-
tionship, you can’t help but be flattered.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Low on
faith? It’s not so wrong to ask for proof once
in a while. If you ask for it today, you’ll get
it — or at least you’ll get a symbol of the
evidence you seek.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Are you im-
patient with the process of change? Don’t
get ahead of yourself. Take steps to return
to your usual grounded state. A walk in the
sunshine may do the trick.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). If you
are uncertain and act like you are, others
will try to take control of the situation. Be
a leader instead. Be decisive. It doesn’t
matter whether you’re wrong or right at
this point; it only matters that you make a
decision.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Cooperation
is love. Uncooperative situations are not
reflections of love. Find ways to get along
without giving up your truth. There’s a com-
promise that will be a win for all.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Relation-
ships that grow slowly become deeply root-
ed. You need solid ties at this juncture. They
will help you down the road. So be patient
with the way things are developing.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You attract
houseguests. Can you blame them for plot-
ting to stay with you? Your home is cozy,
and everyone feels comfortable in the envi-
ronment you’ve created.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You are not
defined by the goals you meet. You’re wor-
thy of love regardless of what you achieve.
Tonight, advice may sound like criticism,
but there’s still something valuable in it if
you can get past the tone.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Ev-
ery relationship comes with its share of
mixed feelings, and they can all be worked
through. Replace the not so awesome feel-
ings along the way until there is only love.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Think
ahead, make a plan, and hold your dearest
intentions at the forefront of your mind. Your
ability to shut out distractions and focus in-
tently for many hours at a time will win you
a prime position or assignment.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It may
seem like money is flying out of your ac-
count, but you can’t put a price tag on ex-
perience. For now, enjoy yourself without
worrying about the cost.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It’s quite
possible that the voice whispering to your
heart is the voice of “future you.” Future you
just wants to let you know about a few de-
cisions you could make today that would
help you enjoy health and happiness for
years to come.
FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (June 19). You’ll
be an important addition to a company. The
venture you give your energy to in July will
grow over time if you invest fully. In Sep-
tember, you’ll work on improving your envi-
ronment, and beautiful things will happen.
Your love life blossoms in October. You’ll be
paid well to solve a problem in November.
Scorpio and Aquarius people adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 4, 49, 42, 31 and
16.