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
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Creators
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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.