THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2016
FEATURES
Neighbor wants reimbursement
Dear Annie: I am 71 years old,
and I have taken care of my neigh-
bor, “Martha,” for 15 years. I did
everything for Martha, includ-
ing shopping, taking her to doctor
appointments and ixing anything
that needed repairs. She passed
away last year and had no will.
Martha has one daughter who
lives in another state. The daugh-
ter left with her stepdad when she
was a teenager. She and Martha
went 30 years without speaking to
each other. After the stepdad died,
the daughter got her foot back in the
door.
Martha was worth around
$100,000. My question is, can I get
anything from her estate for taking
care of her? I put my life on hold
to do it. Martha always said that she
was going to make it up to me, but I
guess she never got around to it. —
Good Neighbor
Dear Neighbor: We hope you
didn’t take care of Martha solely
to get money out of her estate.
Because if she didn’t put it in writ-
ing, then you are not likely to get a
dime unless her daughter chooses
to compensate you. If you bought
things for Martha and you kept
receipts, or you have documenta-
tion about taking her to doctor’s
appointments and ixing things, you
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy
Mitchell and
Marcy Sugar
may be able to be reimbursed from
the estate.
You sound like a caring person
who made a neighbor feel com-
forted and cared for. Please let that
be your reward.
Dear Annie: I’d like to respond
to the letter from “Befuddled
Grandma,” whose young grand-
daughter, “Harper,” has a seri-
ous tree nut allergy. She and Harp-
er’s mother are not doing the girl
any favors by making her cousin,
“Cyndi,” eat only things that are
nut-free. They are setting up these
girls for a lifetime of conlict.
I have lived with a peanut
allergy for nearly 50 years. My par-
ents were honest about what would
happen to me if I ate or touched pea-
nuts. As a result, I wasn’t tempted
by what my sister or cousins ate. I
always got my own treat — some-
thing I liked and wanted. At home,
I was always served irst to avoid
cross-contamination. We had strict
rules about cleaning up and touch-
ing things. In 50 years, I’ve had
only two reactions from situations
involving my family.
I’m not downplaying the dan-
ger. I have landed in the ER more
than 30 times and the causes were
mainly labels that didn’t list pea-
nut oil, restaurants that were not
required to tell the truth about food
content and skin contact from con-
taminated surfaces. The last is now
a bigger problem because, these
days, people are constantly eating in
public. Many snack foods have pea-
nuts and people touch everything.
Please tell “Grandma” and her
overprotective daughter that both
Harper and Cyndi should be able
to eat whatever they want as long
as they don’t exchange bites and
Cyndi doesn’t touch nuts and then
touch her cousin. — It Can Be
Done
Dear It: Your parents taught you
how to protect yourself at an early
age. Apparently, Harper’s parents
haven’t done so, which makes her
more vulnerable to cross-contami-
nation. At some point, Harper will
have to learn to manage her allergy
without Mom running interference.
We hope that happens soon.
5A
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). When some-
one you respect is in charge you fall right
into compliance with what’s being request-
ed of you. But when it’s time to self-regu-
late, you’ll be in a mood to push the limits.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Write your
wishes because there is power in your ink-
paper-hand-heart connection. If your wish
is a secret it will be even luckier for you to
have it in this form, as powerful as it is hid-
den away.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Something
will take place to improve the situation be-
tween you and that person who is causing
you pain. Will it be gentle talk or honest,
tough love? Only you know the mode that
will best suit the relationship.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Other peo-
ple’s dramas will only sound like gossip or
a decoy if they come from you. Besides, the
most interesting events center on you. Be-
lieve it and share your own stories.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Like a college
student afraid to join the real world work-
force, sometimes learning can be used as
an excuse not to move forward. You know
all you need to know. Now get out there and
use it.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll be do-
ing business on behalf of those unable or
unwilling to do it themselves. There’s honor
in this. Also responsibility — it’s best not to
dwell on that part. Just execute this quickly
with a clear intention and a light heart.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). A great coach
will help you think ahead of where you are
and help you plan and do all it takes to get
to the next level. Keep this in mind and you
will eventually attract the right person.
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). Today will
feel a bit like working in a computer pro-
gram you basically know, until you hit that
one key that sends you to an entirely differ-
ent screen you’re not sure how to escape
from. Breathe and ask for help.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Sure,
you’ve done brave things. Some might even
call you heroic. But this isn’t what you’ve
built your reputation on. Consistency and
good cheer have earned you major loyalty.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You will
get people working in concert to effect
meaningful change. This talent of yours
is not to be taken lightly, even though it
doesn’t require much effort from you today.
One successful act will have a snowball ef-
fect.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You will
learn who you are by seeing what you can
do. You will learn what you can do by trying
what you probably can’t do. The one who is
least afraid of looking ridiculous wins!
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Sometimes
the superficial things you think are going to
make you happy actually do. As much as
you’d like to claim the spiritually high road,
a lower indulgence may do just as much to
stoke your joy.
THURSDAY’S BIRTHDAY (May 26). Your
exploring mind will set sail in a new study
this year that will open up an entire trajec-
tory of new friends and environments. The
romantic aspects of love will be highlighted
in July. Save and find ways to earn more in
July and you’ll be in a prime position to take
a chance in business in August. Libra and
Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9,
14, 33, 28 and 5.