FEATURES
8A
Broker a truce for resolution
Dear Annie: I have two
sons, both married with chil-
dren, living in two different
states. For several years, my
older son “John” has refused
to talk to his brother, “Teddy.”
I don’t know why, except that
John’s wife initiated it.
My husband and my sons and
their families were at a wedding
a few years ago. John’s wife re-
fused to acknowledge Teddy’s
family. She stayed for all of the
wedding festivities, but walked
away whenever Teddy, his wife
or children came near.
Since then, John and his
family have visited cousins
who live near his brother, but
they have not once contact-
ed him. My husband and I are
stressed over the situation, but
don’t know what to do about it.
Any suggestions? — Cornered
Dear Cornered: Can you
speak to your sons and find
out what this is all about? Was
there an argument between
the wives? Did Teddy say or
do something that John’s wife
found insulting or unforgiv-
able? Or vice versa?
Losing a sibling over some-
thing that might be remedied
is terribly sad. But if you are
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
willing, you are in a position
to broker a truce. Perhaps one
of your sons (or their wives)
would be willing to discuss it
with you and find a way to re-
solve it. Often these disagree-
ments turn into longtime feuds
because no one is willing to
take the first step without en-
couragement and help from a
third party. If you don’t feel
capable of mediating, consid-
er asking another relative or a
close friend to step in.
Dear Annie: I read your col-
umn every day, but I am of tired
reading about problems. Surely
there are people who have good
marriages.
I first met my wife at her
school’s football game when
I was 15 and she was 16. My
friend and I sat behind her and
her friend, and when we found
out that our school was play-
ing hers the following week,
we had a lot of fun banter back
and forth and we eventually got
their phone numbers.
One of the girls made a
great impression on me. I was
so taken with her that I called
her every day. I was too young
to drive, so for three years,
I would walk 14 miles on the
weekends to see her. She grad-
uated ahead of me and went to
work.
I graduated the following
May and we were married in
June. When we said, “Till death
we do part,” we meant it. We
were married 67 years. She died
in April of last year. I think we
somehow found the secret to a
good marriage and lived it all
of that time. — W
Dear W: A lot of readers
have good marriages, which
means they don’t generally
write for advice, and that is re-
flected in our column. But we
are happy to print your sweet
valentine. It will give the rest
of our readers hope that they,
too, can achieve marital bliss,
as did you and your wife.
Thank you for the words of en-
couragement.
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
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Seeking
things that have substance and meaning
leads to happiness. Something doesn’t
have to be serious and heavy to be mean-
ingful, though. Meaning can be as light as
a laugh.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It’s said
that truth doesn’t blush. It’s the tension be-
tween what we’d like to project as true and
the deeper truth that is that causes pink
cheeks and shy smiles.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ve
worked hard to get where you are, but you
don’t think that makes you better than any-
one else. You believe all people are equal
regardless of their station in life, and you
treat everyone the same.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). To have
compassion for others, you have to have it
for yourself. This is harder for you because
you have a habit of holding yourself up to
impossible standards. You deserve your
own kindness.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Obstacles in
your path may seem immovable, but that’s
only because someone is very convincing-
ly bluffing. All you have to do is call the bluff,
and what was “immovable” suddenly will
be gone.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You hate to
be a nag, and so you won’t be. You’ll find
another way to motivate your loved ones to
do as they should be doing. Maybe you’re a
little bit sneaky in this regard, but it’s better
than nagging.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You can’t stop
people from talking, and in your case, that
will be a good thing. Your stellar reputation
precedes you, earning you instant respect
and paving the way for smooth interactions.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll be
after new ways to live with style. Whatever
you can do to lighten your load will aid the
effort. You may even be inspired to let go of
a collection that has run its course.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It may
seem as though the other person is the
whole problem, but don’t let that stop you
from taking responsibility for whatever you
can in the situation. You’ll be amazed at
what you can solve alone.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Reach-
ing a shared goal will be particularly sat-
isfying. The hardest thing about it will be
coming up with a goal you can share with
the diverse team around you now.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There’s
such a thing as too much critical thinking.
Don’t let yourself think your way out of ac-
tion or consider so many possibilities that
none seems interesting or feasible any-
more. In other words, don’t over-think it.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Confidence
comes from trusting yourself, but not trust-
ing yourself to be perfect -- mistakes are to
be expected. Instead, trust yourself to right
the wrongs, learn and get better.
WEDNESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 1).
Your full moon birthday starts your solar
year with a gift to enhance your perspec-
tive. You’ll provide help to many through the
summer. An idea you’ll have in August is
bankable. The completion of a project will
start a chain of events that turns your life
into a ride. November and December are
the best financial months. Capricorn and
Pisces people adore you. Your lucky num-
bers are: 2, 9, 7, 40 and 26.