FEATURES
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2016
Tomorrow’s horoscope
A deeply resentful brother
Dear Annie: My brother and I
are close in age, and from the time
I was born, he has bullied, teased
and ignored me. He inally con-
fessed that he had been jealous of
me because our mother was over-
whelmed and he felt abandoned.
A few years ago, I was diag-
nosed with a rare form of can-
cer with a low survival rate, but
against all odds, I am in remis-
sion. Several months ago, I asked
my mother for a inancial gift to
pay for an experimental treatment
that was not covered by insurance.
She has a sizable estate and is in
her 90s, and she readily agreed. It
most likely saved my life.
My brother was furious with
her and with me and wrote a cold
email to the other siblings, say-
ing that “everyone has problems”
and asking why I was being given
special treatment. Last week, he
sent out another email to the fam-
ily, masked in sincere language
about how he was concerned for
our mother. He wanted to make us
all promise not to ask her for any
more gifts, saying she is anxious
about her inances.
The whole family knows that
she is quite comfortably off and
that her fears are most likely a
result of early dementia. But it was
Dear Annie
By
Annie
Lane
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
clear in a separate email to me that
he blames me for stressing her out.
I have no intention of asking
my mother for any more money,
but these exchanges have left me
in tears. My husband says I should
not open any emails from my
brother and I should cut off con-
tact, but now my brother has con-
tacted all of us with a plan for a
sibling reunion — to take place
during a time I’d planned to visit
my mother. I’m not sure how to get
out of this reunion without causing
a family rift. — Living Life With-
out My Brother
Dear Living: For whatever
reason, your brother is a deeply
unhappy person, and he’s bent on
bringing others down into his mis-
erable company. He is toxic, and
cutting off communication is the
healthy choice for now.
Like a classic bully, he’s react-
ing to your withdrawal by desper-
ately trying even harder to pro-
voke you. You absolutely do not
have to go to this reunion. Visit
your mother instead (assuming the
reunion isn’t at her house).
If your brother seeks help to
become a happier person and less
emotionally manipulative toward
you, you can reconnect.
Dear Annie: I’d like to know
why some restaurants and diners
don’t treat tea drinkers the same as
coffee drinkers. I’ve been dining
with a group when coffee drinkers
were given unlimited free reills
but I was charged for a second
cup of tea. I can’t believe tea costs
more than coffee, so I wonder what
the reason is. — Tea Drinker
Dear Tea: Your question
stumped me, so I asked some serv-
ers: Why the “steep” cost for tea?
Apparently, it’s because it requires
more steps than coffee. Not all
restaurants have hot water at the
ready, so they heat it up just for that
cup of tea. Then, at some restau-
rants, there’s the matter presenting
all the tea bag choices, arranging
the lemon, cream, sugar, etc. If any
other servers or tea drinkers would
like to weigh in on this, I would
love to hear from you.
5A
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your love is
not blind as love tends to be. You even may
worry that it’s a little too filled with visions
today. You see close and intimately, and you
see a distant future, too.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll be told
what to do. Having your work cut out for you
is actually a good thing — much better than
having your work uncut and trying to figure
out what you’re supposed to do.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You value
family. You value family to such an extent
that you feel the impetus to raise and teach
relatives who aren’t your children. Today is
perfect for taking care of parents or another
extension of your clan.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). How in
the world will you get ahead? List it. Think
about it. Fantasize about it. Flesh it out in
your mind. And then just know that in the
pursuit of an ambition, many sacrifices will
happen.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You won’t mind
working long, though it’s a little better if the
work is not so difficult. Furthermore, who
depends on you? Who is waiting for you
at the other end? These things will make
a difference.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Even though
you’ve a full schedule, you’re on the quest
for delight and amusement. Friendships are
your wealth. When you really like someone,
you’ll celebrate every one of their small vic-
tories and accomplishments.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). When you
live in a world where every computer and
phone has a camera and you never know
what it’s capturing, is there any privacy, re-
ally? Probably not, so it’s particularly lucky
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
today that you’re doing the right thing.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You will in-
fluence others without thinking, persuade
them without talking and comfort them
without putting yourself out in the least. This
is the magic of your cosmic gift.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Here’s
what it will take to get clarity on the situa-
tion. First, you’ll have to disassociate your-
self from your current point of view: Pretend
you’re not you, and try out a detached,
emotionless vantage. Next, you’ll see.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). When
loved ones shut you down, it’s something
to pay attention to, especially the how and
why of it. The one who tries to keep you
from your happiness is also threatened by
your power.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Every lit-
tle thing you do is magic! At least the rest
of the world sees it this way, though your
tendency to be hard on yourself obscures
your own vision.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Some say
a life without reflection is a waste. Others
claim being too conscious of oneself mess-
es up what would otherwise be beautiful
living. Split the difference. Think, but don’t
over-think.
THURSDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 20). Your
love will be celebrated this year as you give
yourself in new ways, and all the good heart
energy comes back around to hug you. In
2017, the best ideas and the most horrible
ones will lead to excitement, adventure and
the kind of experience that looks better in a
Facebook post. Wedding bells ring in July.
Leo and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 4, 7, 10, 44 and 32.