FEATURES
6A
Man controls money, meds
Dear Annie: I’ve been mar-
ried for 29 years. I have three sons
who are all grown. I held a job
only for a few years of that time. I
am not working now. I have cus-
tody of one grandson, and babysit
him and another grandson.
For the past ive years, my
husband and I haven’t gotten
along. He is so controlling. He
took the car and bank account
card away. Now he won’t let me
touch any money, and I’m stuck
in the house with no way to get
anywhere.
I have to cook what he buys,
whether I like it or not. I have to
beg for a soda. He will only buy
water for me. I’m not allowed
to have anything. My mom has
tried to help with shampoo and
stuff. The little money I get from
babysitting I use for toothpaste
and body wash.
I moved into a spare bedroom
a year ago. Now he won’t pay for
my doctor visits and leaves my
medications at the pharmacy for
weeks at a time. I have asthma,
high blood pressure and a blood
disorder. I need those medica-
tions. I’m scared he will hurt
me if I try to go to the bank for
money. Is this abuse? — Help
Me, Please
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy
Mitchell and
Marcy Sugar
Dear Help: Yes, this is abuse.
Your husband doesn’t have to hit
you to be an abuser. Controlling
all the money, as well as access
to your medications and doctors,
is also a form of abuse. Please
contact the National Domes-
tic Violence hotline (thehotline.
org) at 1-800-799-SAFE. Some-
one there can help you ind the
safest way to leave this situation.
Please don’t wait. Call right now.
Dear Annie: My daughter
was recently a bridesmaid in a
wedding. The bride was one of
her closest friends growing up,
and I always thought of her as a
second daughter.
My husband and I looked
at her registry and purchased
expensive china for her that cost
us hundreds of dollars. We just
received her thank-you note in
the mail. It was a postcard with
a short message thanking us for
the “dinnerware.”
I am greatly disappointed
to have received a postcard
instead of an actual, thought-
ful, handwritten note. I know
it’s the thought that counts and
we should be grateful to receive
an acknowledgement since so
many newlyweds don’t even
bother, but does this genera-
tion lack the iner skills of pro-
prietary and manners? I know I
taught my daughter better than
that and she sent personalized
thank-you notes for her wedding
gifts. Should I say anything to
the bride? — Concerned Mom
Dear Mom: Please don’t say
anything to the bride. As close
as you may be, you are not her
mother. We know you are dis-
appointed in the quality of your
thank-you note, and we under-
stand. However, you did receive
an acknowledgement of your
gift, along with a “thanks” of
some kind. That will simply have
to do. A proper thank-you note
should always say something
speciic, gracious and apprecia-
tive. It’s too bad so many brides
and grooms don’t realize how
important that small effort is to
the recipient.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Cosmic
rule of thumb: If you hear the same thing
three times from unrelated sources, listen.
Maybe you don’t agree, but that’s not the
point. Listening — that’s the point.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Who is
dragging you down? Don’t be fooled by
power plays and positions. Cranky people
are weak people today. Stand your ground
and things will go your way.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). What will it
take to get the attention flowing your way?
You’ll be weighing this out, judging your
crowd and deciding what you’re willing to
do for a smile or an opportunity.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ve been
wounded, and you’ll seize the chance to
help those who are currently going through
similar pain. Wounded healers are the best
healers, because they understand what
life is like from the patient’s position.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). If and when you
choose to forgive, it won’t be about the oth-
er person; it will be about you. It takes up
a lot of energy and mental space to hold
a grudge. Just think of what you might do
with the extra RAM!
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll interact
with people who are so different from you
that you won’t even be sure how to talk to
them, but it’s never stopped you before.
Common ground will be easily found and
then come the real treasures.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll find
yourself torn in the middle of ideas about
who you’ve been and who you want to be.
This is about habits. The old habits call
you back, and the new ones beckon you
forward.
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). You don’t
idolize anyone; nor do you demonize any-
one. You really have a balanced view of who
people are and why they do what they do.
This will serve you well in the afternoon.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The
crowd will come to you with outstretched
hands. If only you could help them all. Who
knows, maybe you will! If you do, it will be
a byproduct of you following the impulses
to help yourself.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ll do
a new thing, the most important moments
of which will be the first moments. Your
brain will store those away as nuggets of
inspiration and solace for years to come.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The wise
thing to do will be to hang back and quietly
observe the social dynamics going on in
the moment. When the time comes, you’ll
insert yourself into the situation that’s a
fine fit.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Whose
agenda are you attending to? Everyone
seems to want something from you. But
what do you want? If you don’t know yet,
all will be fine. If you decide by tonight, all
will be better.
FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (June 3). There’s
none cooler than you this year. “Cool” is
not an easy thing to be, by the way. It in-
volves a level of self-possession that few
can attain. You’ll be celebrated in July and
again in November. Hopefully this won’t be
more attention than you can handle! The
friendships that sustain you will provide
fun extras in September. Capricorn and
Aries adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
5, 9, 20, 50 and 5.