THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016
FEATURES
Son’s wife cuts off family
Dear Annie: Several years ago,
our son lived with a very immature
young woman. We tried to make
her feel welcome, but she had no
interest in getting to know us. The
only thing she ever asked was how
much our son would inherit.
She then had an affair. Our son
asked whether he should leave her.
My husband said yes, but I told my
son that people make mistakes and
it was his decision. He stayed. A
few months later, she was worried
he might leave, so she lied about
using the pill and got pregnant. The
baby was christened and baptized
with only her family present. We
saw the photos on Facebook. When
they got married shortly after, they
never said a word to us.
We decided not to hold a grudge.
We bought a house where they
could live for $200 a month in rent,
and gave them $40,000 to furnish
it. Our new daughter-in-law said
we should let them live there rent-
free and they stopped paying rent.
They also didn’t take care of the
house. So we sold it, and when we
didn’t give them the proceeds, she
told everyone that we were terrible
people and had stolen their money.
They now have two children
and a third on the way. We are not
allowed to see the grandchildren.
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy
Mitchell and
Marcy Sugar
Our son calls us once a month,
but he’s afraid to tell his wife. We
just wrote a new will and are giv-
ing them nothing. We haven’t told
our son this, but we’ve told our
other children that they can give
their brother a share if they choose.
But his wife has also cut off con-
tact with the siblings, as well as our
son’s grandparents. It’s been ive
years.
We would still welcome her, but
we aren’t holding our breath. Our
son says he’s OK with this. He says
he’s not abused. Sometimes there
is no happy ending. — Resigned to
Our Situation
Dear Resigned: We are so sorry
your son married such an unkind,
immature person. Also, that he is
too cowardly to take a stand, fear-
ful that she might leave. But that is
highly unlikely. We wonder how
your daughter-in-law would react
if she learned that you might recon-
sider including them in your will
if you were allowed to spend time
with the grandchildren. She sounds
mercenary enough to think about it.
It’s good that you have other chil-
dren to lean on. Our condolences.
Dear Annie: I just returned
from a bridal shower and learned
that a few of us were not invited
to the wedding. I am a good friend
of the bride and of her mother. The
other women at my table said, “See
you at the wedding.” I stayed silent.
Several of us are baking the
cake and cookies for the wed-
ding. Most of us who are doing
the baking are not invited. When
did it become OK to invite people
to a shower and not the wedding?
— Old-Fashioned
Dear Old-Fashioned: It is not
OK to invite friends and family
to a shower and not the wedding.
(Work showers fall into a different
category.) It is especially rude to
ask these same people to bake for
the event, unless you are charging
them a fee. However, there is a pos-
sibility that the bride assumes you
will be in attendance anyway since
you are preparing the desserts. You
might talk to the bride’s mother and
clear it up. We’d hate for there to be
a misunderstanding.
5A
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). The passive
move isn’t always the best one, but in this
case, today’s conflict probably doesn’t have to
involve you. Retreat from that stress and you’ll
be advancing to your own centered being.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your truth is
very close to that of your friend’s. Because
you can understand each other so well, the
exchange you have this afternoon will be ca-
thartic. It feels good to be heard.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The question is
whether you should do the job yourself or en-
list someone else to do it. The answer will be
quickly made obvious when the right person
makes the job look easy.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). It’s easy to
be confident when you’re comfortable, which
is why your sartorial decisions will matter so
much to the outcome of today’s business.
Perfectly dressed for the occasion at hand,
you’ll have a distinct advantage.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Heart to heart
exchanges with others make everyone feel
more loved and more loving. The expansive
and joyful energy is a contagion that will
make its way through the Borromean rings of
your social world.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Most of the jobs
today are important enough to take seriously,
get right and finish before you hit the pillow to-
night. But the thing that is the most important
job will be the silliest one.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It’s the exchange
of energy, ideas and feelings, flowing back
and forth — this more than anything is what
makes a group of people feel like home to
you. When this exchange is interrupted, seek
to heal the breach immediately.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Each 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
in the team is helping the other reach new
potentials. It’s not a conscious effort; rather,
it’s the very nature of the group to elevate one
another in the spirit of competition and cama-
raderie.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You
have a limited amount of time and much to do
within that time today; it’s true. However, you’ll
find that when you endeavor to fully inhabit
the moment, it will bend and stretch to love
you back.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The in-
formation you learn today will be a piece of
a puzzle that will intrigue you for weeks to
come. An ensnarling mystery can be a de-
lightful diversion, and this one has personal
implications, too.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There are so
many ways to see the truths of the day. Some
are hard, others warm; then there are bright
truths and stark ones. And by the way, there’s
no good reason to doubt the easy truths —
they, too, might exist.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Being around
busy, chaotic people will activate your fond-
ness of peace and quiet. The serenity you
long for all day will stretch before you tonight,
sweetly fulfilling.
WEDNESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (June 29).
While there are those around you who en-
deavor to get rich and gather honors, your
main aim is to do good and be useful. Your
modest goals will bring results both pleas-
ing and astounding. Unencumbered by the
warped perspective of ambition, you’ll be
extremely attractive and have your choice
of company all year. Taurus and Sagittarius
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 2, 14,
44 and 17.