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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 2015)
FEATURES 6A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2015 Dad may need some tough love Tomorrow’s horoscope By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. Dear Annie: My dad has been a mess for the past couple of years and he’s sinking into a hole. Six months ago, he was laid off and his unemployment benefits just stopped. He also hit a car and left the scene. The police caught up with him and charged him with a hit and run. Dad is a delivery driver and I worry that his driver’s license will be taken away. He is too stubborn to find any other type of work. He recently went for an interview and didn’t get the job. I’m guessing because they saw his driving record. Dad keeps asking me for money and I always give it to him, because, well, he’s my fa- ther and I hate to see him like this. Here’s the real problem: Yesterday, I moved his laundry out of my dryer and noticed a cut piece of straw that is used for cocaine. Now I think I know where that money is going. For the past two weeks, I’ve been doing everything I can for Dad, helping him get food stamps, health insurance and cash assistance. I’ve been bringing him to all the govern- ment agencies, sitting with him and waiting. Then he asks me Annie’s Mailbox Creators Syndicate Inc. Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar for money and I find that straw. I’ve had my suspicions for a while and this confirms it. He also drinks like a fish. I feel as though I’m the parent and he’s the child. Should I report him for the drugs so he can get court-or- dered rehab? — Torn Son Dear Son: Your father might get into court-ordered rehab. But he also might have to spend some time in jail for possession. You sound like a caring, lov- ing son. Please understand that you cannot get your father to stop using drugs and alcohol. He must want to do that for himself. But you can and should stop giving him money. If you are concerned about his bills, you can pay those directly, and you can feed him and do his laundry if you choose. But it seems that handing him cash will only lead to trouble. You can look into Al-Anon (al-anon.alateen.org) and also Adult Children of Al- coholics (adultchildren.org) for support for yourself. Dear Annie: The letter from “Tired of the Gimme Genera- tion” is right on. My husband and I are godparents to a love- ly girl who is now 12. We have showered her with gifts since she was born, but have never once received any birthday or holiday cards in return. We can’t fault the child. Where are her parents? What are they teaching her? Our gifts were always something they ex- pected her to receive. In fact, we only heard from them when a gift-giving occasion was on the horizon. A few times, the mother would tell us that the child wrote a thank-you note but the parents forgot to mail it. On the rare occasion when we did receive a thank-you, it was al- ways just prior to the next gift- ing date. We sent our last gift on Christmas and received a thank- you note in April, just in time for her birthday. We sent a con- gratulatory email. — The Heck with You 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). The Zen state of detachment is a liberation of the soul. How will you know when you’ve achieved detachment? You’ll be laughing about the very thing you once cried over. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). When the voice of fear pipes up, don’t ignore it -- converse with it. Probably there is some valuable protection it can offer. The conver- sation will also illuminate truth and dispel falsehood. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When you’re worried about what you’re going to say and how you’re going to behave it only means that you’re still discovering who you are. Don’t worry so much. CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll turn a mundane practice into an elegant art. It seems there’s nothing that can’t be made a little better by the quality of attention you bring to it. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The one who has helped you in the past needs your help now, but perhaps doesn’t know it. This chance to assist is another opportunity to expand your heart and deepen your soul. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Good and evil often go masquerading as normal, ev- eryday choices. One definition of evil: any choice that leads you away from being the best you can be. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Overly con- fident people annoy you, mostly because they are more concerned with their status than they are with reality. It sometimes takes a moment of doubt, or the fear of los- ing, to help us understand what we have. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your rec- ollection may be somewhat foggy, but that will work in your favor. Your memory is kind and positive. Happy memories will get bet- ter over time and bad memories will lose their sting. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The life lessons of the day fall into the category of advanced placement. The fact that you’re getting this on your plate means you’re among the best and brightest. The thing that’s hard to learn will be sweet to know. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Unrea- sonable goals are sometimes attained. If you’re going to make unreasonable goals (and ambitious people like you usually do) then resolve not to let yourself get discour- aged when you fall short. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The odds may appear to be stacked against you, but that never deterred you before, neither should it now. The little guy (SET ITAL) can (END ITAL) win. You’ve seen it happen and you’ve made it happen. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Religious and cultural matters need to be treated with reverence, especially if the subject is not your specific religion or culture. Much trou- ble will be avoided by honoring what others consider sacred. THURSDAY’S BIRTHDAY (JULY 9). Your solar return will shed light on the illu- sions that kept you back in the past. There is no glass ceiling to break, so sail up, all the way to your dreams. Your muses are working overtime in August, so be ready to capture the ideas that pop into your head. September sends you across an ocean. October brings a windfall. Pisces and Scor- pio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 16, 28, 1 and 42.
