FEATURES
6A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2015
Wife dreads repetitive storytelling Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Dear Annie: It is a modern kind
of problem to have such a long life
expectancy. My husband and I are
in our early 60s. His parents are in
their early 90s. They still live in-
dependently and are fairly healthy.
We often have family get-togeth-
ers with his parents, our children
and our grandchildren.
My husband’s father tells the
same stories over and over. He
completely monopolizes conver-
sations and will interrupt a speak-
er and start telling his own tale
from days long gone. His wife will
sometimes say, “Dear, you’ve told
this story before,” and he will mo-
mentarily pause, but his brain is
stuck on one track and he’ll keep
going. He is unable not to contin-
ue, complete with the same jokes
and dramatic pauses that he has
learned through repetition. We try
to be polite and listen, but I see
how my children’s eyes glaze over
and eventually, they find reasons
to leave.
Here’s the real problem: Over
the past few years, I have seen
my husband developing this same
need to speak. Usually, he wants
to make a point or he has some
complaint. But he seems unable to
just let it go. He also has started
telling long stories, over and over,
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
about his younger days. Yesterday,
he ruined a family lunch by fight-
ing about something minor that he
absolutely could not let pass.
I don’t want to spend years
hearing the same stories and put-
ting up with a husband who is un-
able to be silent and listen to oth-
ers. My father-in-law is oblivious
to others, and I can see that his son
is headed the same way. What can
be done? — L.
Dear L.: You’re overlooking
the possibility of an inherited
neurological problem behind this
tendency. It is not uncommon for
some seniors to become repetitive
and focus on their younger days.
But the inability to drop an issue
when asked, even when it causes
family fights, has an element of
compulsive behavior. Please talk
to your husband about this when
he is in a more reasonable mood.
Ask him to speak to his doctor
about an evaluation, or better, go
with him. But please work on your
tolerance levels. Your husband
isn’t being annoying on purpose.
Instead of allowing your frustra-
tion to boil over, try to understand
how difficult it is for him to con-
trol himself, and then help others
be understanding, as well.
Dear Annie: Has the defini-
tion of “fiance” changed? It used
to mean one’s intended spouse,
one’s betrothed, the person one
has agreed to marry after an en-
gagement period. Now, it seems
to mean merely the person one is
currently having sex with. Mar-
riage no longer appears to be a
necessary element of the word’s
meaning. Am I right about this?
— Curious
Dear Curious: No. A fian-
ce is still someone you intend to
marry. However, the length of the
engagement could be quite long -
years - and in the meantime, some
couples choose to live together.
While there are a few optimistic
folks who refer to themselves as
a “fiance” even when they are not,
in fact, engaged to be married, it
doesn’t change the meaning of the
word. It only shows the expecta-
tions of the person using it.
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). Recent dra-
matic events might be fresh on your mind,
but if they involve anything negative, espe-
cially someone treating you wrong, ditch
the topic for something more cheerful.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Everyone
has to agree before the project can really
take off. Who hasn’t given their consent
yet? You thought you could go on without
this, and you could, but awkwardly and
without momentum.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The time
you spend trying out different ways of do-
ing things may seem to be a waste, but
really it’s not. You can only find a good sys-
tem through trial. There will be a few errors
before you find success.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’re
busy, but try to calm down, because the
ones who threaten to use up your pre-
cious minutes actually have something
important to say, and once you slow your
roll, you’ll hear it.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll experience
a taste of a culture that is decidedly not for
you. However, you can still appreciate how
the others relate in spite of this. You can
see why they need it. Your relationships
are stronger through understanding.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Create a
mental bubble around yourself to block out
anyone who is trying to rush you, push you
or change your natural rhythm in any way.
Slow and deliberate action will take you far.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Instead of
adapting to the environment, consid-
er that the environment might be richer
and better if you were to create your own
niche inside of it. The environment actual-
ly needs you to be yourself.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). A switch-
eroo is featured. The path you thought
would be such an exciting ride now feels
like quicksand; whereas, the thing you
were resistant to now seems buoyant, ex-
citing and so right.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The
question they always ask right before the
exciting part of the plot is: What could go
wrong? This question tips the audience
that the ride is about to get bumpy. Also it’s
why you’re white-knuckled for part of today.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It
doesn’t take a very clever person to recog-
nize a very clever person. However, when
clever people do connect -- and you will
today -- it is most satisfying to be validated
at the deeper levels.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Ques-
tion each option, but not endlessly. The
best questions to ask are: Is it morally
sound? Intriguing? So me? Am I likely to
enjoy it enough to stick with it?
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The first
thought bubble of the morning will keep
haunting you all day long unless you take
care of it. Depending on what this thought
is, it could be a rather pleasant haunting.
WEDNESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 12).
It’s one of your more prolific years, and you
will fill the world with your works. Your talent
for attracting excellence will have you stand-
ing in the winner’s circle. October travel will
thrill you. November changes up your per-
sonal life, and your efforts to make your heart
happy again will yield fulfilling results. Capri-
corn and Sagittarius people adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 6, 30, 14, 36 and 44.