FEATURES
6A
Parents’ ights distress teen
Dear Annie: I am 13 years old.
My parents have been ighting for
as long as I can remember. It’s not
physical, but it is loud, sarcastic
and rude, and they don’t seem to
notice that it affects me, as well
as my older siblings. They ight
every night, usually about bills,
and it seems to be getting worse.
My father is really hard to get
along with, and he is a huge con-
trol freak and really cheap with
money. My mother is the oppo-
site about money, and she spends a
lot. My dad is usually the one who
starts the ights.
Neither of them thinks there is
a problem, but there is. Even after
20 years of being married, they
just can’t get along. I don’t know
what to do, Annie. They won’t lis-
ten to me, they won’t stop scream-
ing at each other, and every sin-
gle thing we do as a family ends
with them ighting. — Distressed
Daughter
Dear Distressed: Your par-
ents have fallen into a pattern of
behavior that has been going on
for so long that they no longer
realize how detrimental it is to
their marriage and to their chil-
dren. We won’t get into the likely
reasons for the constant bickering,
but we can tell you that in order
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy
Mitchell and
Marcy Sugar
to change this behavior, they prob-
ably need third-party interven-
tion, meaning a counselor or cler-
gyperson. Since they won’t listen
to you, please enlist the help of
a trusted adult — a grandpar-
ent, aunt, uncle or a close family
friend. Even your school coun-
selor or a favorite teacher might be
able to get through to your parents,
so they can recognize how damag-
ing such behavior is for those of
you who witness it. And talking to
one of these adults will also help
you ind some emotional support
for yourself.
Dear Annie: In the past three
years, there have been two deaths
in our neighborhood. Both times,
I made food for the families. One
was a casserole and the other was
a full meal, soup to nuts.
Neither time was the food
acknowledged with a note or a
thank-you card. I was taught that
you send thank-you cards for food
received after a funeral. Is this not
a Southern custom? Do I continue
giving my time and effort, know-
ing it will not be appreciated or
acknowledged? — Southern Belle
Dear Belle: Sending thank-
you notes for kindnesses after a
funeral is not limited to any par-
ticular region. It is expected and
proper everywhere. People some-
times think that mourners are
exempt from such niceties, but
this is what friends are for — to
help write notes to those people
who made meals, sent lowers or
did other such things. (And no, it
doesn’t matter how many casse-
roles one receives or wants. You
thank the giver regardless.)
Please don’t stop making cas-
seroles. Our only suggestions
would be to make sure they can
be frozen, and to put them in dis-
posable containers so the family
isn’t obligated to wash and return
the dish. We are certain the food
was appreciated, even though the
neighbors may have been over-
whelmed at the time. On their
behalf, we’d like to thank you and
all the other thoughtful people
who care enough to reach out to
others in times of need.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2016
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your body is
starting to show the benefits of your health
and fitness efforts, and this will inspire you
to do even better. Sure, this is work, but your
happy spirit makes any attention you put on
feeling better a joy.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your friends
will want to hang out at your place. This is
where the acceptance and sense of belong-
ing is, after all. They can feel it best in your
kitchen, and you’ll dream up something deli-
cious to add to that.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re all about
proliferating ideas and giving sparkling com-
munication. It’s an attractive style. Even qui-
et and reserved people will find themselves
drawn out by your charms.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). The resourc-
es are there, but they are not apparent. They
are like underwater springs, and you’ll have
to apply your intuition to divine your way to
the good stuff, like the ancients who used a
sacred stick to find water underground.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The orphans and
strays will be attracted to your innate gener-
osity, and perhaps you’ll care for them by en-
tertaining them and impressing them, taking
risks that leave them gasping in awe.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Location mat-
ters — specifically, the flow of energy through
a location. Set it up so that you can move eas-
ily through the tasks that keep your life rolling
along. Bad organization brings with it some
unnecessary stress.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). When loss,
change or stress takes someone you love out
of his or her normal coping pattern, you’re there
to give reassurance. The stability of your love
can be counted on when other things can’t be.
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). Effectively
walk through the good and bad of the day and
you’ll grow. When things seem to be turning
in a negative direction, you can avoid getting
caught in the downward spiral by keeping
your hands and attention to yourself.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Being
there to celebrate the success of a loved one
makes you feel connected. You have your
own successes, which is why you can so
easily relate and do it up in the memorable
way everyone enjoys.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). A past
predicament could have been altered had
you made different choices, but most of it
was out of your control. Moving forward, you’ll
continue to put yourself in a better and more
powerful position.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). If you’re not
sure what matters, give the whole issue of your
priorities about 15 silent, thoughtful minutes.
Nothing is too hard for you to figure out when
you allow the mental space and focus for that.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ll make
your choice. A weaker person would make
no decisions, thereby believing that he or she
has escaped all responsibility. It doesn’t work
that way. Not deciding is a decision, too, and
therefore culpable.
FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (June 10). You’re not
aiming to gain power, just trying to be more
effective. In dedicating yourself to that you will
gain power, momentum, better connections
and a more energizing emotional pallete, too.
Your project will cross the finish line in August
and win an award in September. Family ex-
pansion happens in December. Sagittarius
and Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 4, 20, 27, 39 and 11.