FEATURES
6A
Photos spark family feud
Dear Annie: My family is
very dysfunctional because of
my mother’s poor parenting and
her history of playing favorites.
I maintain minimal contact with
my siblings.
One of my sisters is very con-
trolling and has always manipu-
lated my mother to get what she
wants. She’s my mother’s “gold-
en child.” A number of years
ago, this sister took all of the old
family photos from my mother’s
home. Mom says she only bor-
rowed them. Knowing my sister,
I was concerned that the family
would never see those pictures
again.
I recently decided to ask my
sister to let me have the pictures
so I could go through them,
make some enlargements and
copies, and write down some
names and dates. My adult chil-
dren also have expressed interest
in having access to the pictures,
as they have never seen them and
would like to know about their
family’s history. My sister lives
four hours away, and I offered to
pick them up.
Well, my request has start-
ed World War III. My mother
and sister are furious that I have
asked to take the pictures to go
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
through them. They cannot give
me a reason I can’t have access
to the photos but consider me the
bad guy in this scenario.
I could back down and let
my sister have her way, but I
would like to have that piece of
my family history to pass on to
my children. Ideally, all of the
siblings would have some of the
originals, but my sister never
learned to share. Should I con-
tinue my quest for these photo-
graphs, even knowing I will be
treated with contempt by my
mother and sister? Or should I
just let it go? — Living in Dys-
functional Family Land
Dear Living: There may be
another way to get the pictures.
Your sister seems controlling
and possessive, so she is unlike-
ly to hand over the photographs.
Instead, as nicely and sweetly as
possible, ask whether you can go
through them in her home. Dis-
cuss scanning the ones you want
into her computer and emailing
them. Or you could offer to pay
her to make copies. Bring your
mother along so she can see that
you are being reasonable and
ÀH[LEOH,I6LVVD\VQRDQG\RXU
mother gets angry, you will be no
worse off.
Dear Annie: I read the let-
ter from “Ohio,” who wondered
why prospective employers nev-
er get back to her after job inter-
views.
I would suggest that after the
interview, she send a thank-you
letter expressing something she
liked about the job and explain-
ing how she’s looking forward to
working for that company.
I learned about that when I
attended a community college.
It helps. One employer was so
impressed that he kept the thank-
\RXQRWHLQP\¿OH²B.T.
Dear B.T.: We like this idea.
It can only enhance your chances
of learning whether you got the
job or not. It also doesn’t hurt to
make a follow-up phone call or
send a polite email if you haven’t
heard back within a week of the
interview.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your own
happiness isn’t even on the list today. What’s
up with that? Maybe it was just an oversight
on your part. You have had your hands full
taking care of your people.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Reach out,
and you’ll be immediately accepted. This
kind of thing doesn’t happen every day, so
take advantage of the special social stardust
sprinkled over today’s efforts.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re creative,
and therefore many options seem feasible
to you. Luxury of choice isn’t always the
best thing for your art. Self-imposed limits
might force you to excel even more than you
thought you could!
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Today gives
you the feeling that your destiny has already
been determined. It has — mostly by you.
You’ll get the early evidence that a wish you
made long ago is coming true.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The uncontrollable
situation rears its head again. Dwelling on it
has the potential to conjure the nervous and
frustrated energy in your belly. Sometimes
the best option is to ignore what you can’t do
anything about.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your friends
have their opinions, none of which apply to
you in the straight-to-the-heart and logical
ways that would cause you to act imme-
diately. You’ll ruminate and form your own
opinions.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Anxious energy
looks for a focus. Don’t give it one. Dissipate
uneasy feelings instead through activity. Go-
ing for a walk, knitting, reading, cleaning, a
movie — they’re all ways to change the men-
tal channel.
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). On the cusp
of the old you and the new you, you are as
mysterious as a midnight moon. Those who
are “awake” enough to admire you can’t help
but wonder about the side you don’t show
the world.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You
could be the center of attention if you wanted
to be — tempting today, for sure. But the tru-
est expression of your charisma will happen
when you quietly tend to your agenda.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). So the
new road opening up doesn’t look like it’s go-
ing to be a pleasant, paved walk in the park.
No, this one is rocky with boulders, cliffs and
the like. Still, you want to go. Your fortunes
beckon you forward.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The ego is
a gold fob watch, hypnotizing you into be-
lieving that other people are your problem.
While other people may help you work on
the problem, the root of all conflict is inside
the self.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). No need to
hurry. You will get where you need to be at
the perfect time regardless of what the clock
says. Stay cool, patient and relaxed. You’ll
make a better impression in life and in traffic.
WEDNESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 21).
When the signs don’t point to the way and
the sun doesn’t shine on the way and there
is no one around to usher you to the way,
you have to invent the way. You will never be
lost this year because you’re creative, strong
and tenacious. You will make a remarkable
difference in your own life and in the lives of
others. Leo and Pisces people adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 3, 25, 48, 46 and
22.