FEATURES
8A
Tomorrow’s horoscope
Comments about weight
Dear Annie: The holidays are
coming, and I’m feeling anxious
already. Most of the events with
my family will include buffets
— which will also include criti-
cism about what I eat, how much
I eat and how much I weigh. I am
5 feet 3 inches tall, and I weigh
115 pounds. My husband’s fam-
ily members, with the exception
of him, are, by medical definition,
morbidly obese.
I am careful about what I eat. I
exercise and take care of myself.
So do my husband and our chil-
dren. I have never and would
never comment on what his family
members eat or their weight. Why
is it acceptable for them to com-
ment on me? I’ll hear, “You don’t
eat enough.” “Is that all you’re
taking?” “You’re too skinny.” All
comments are said loud enough
for all to hear and with a snide
tone.
Do I continue to smile and be
silent? Is there something I should
say in return? This has been going
on for 29 years. — Sad About the
Holidays
Dear Sad: If one of your
in-laws had a genuine worry about
your weight and health, there
would be a time and a place to talk
to you about it, and it definitely
Dear Annie
By
Annie
Lane
Creators
Syndicate
Inc.
wouldn’t be at the family holiday
buffet, after a few glasses of wine,
in front of every cousin, niece and
nephew. It sounds as if they’re
speaking more from a place of
insecurity than concern.
That said, I doubt they have
any idea that their comments are
rude. Because thinness is idealized
in our society, many people mis-
takenly think it’s OK to pick on
a person for being skinny, even if
they would never pick on someone
for being heavy.
Talk to your husband about
how these comments bother you.
Perhaps he can persuade them to
cut it out. And if they continue
with their remarks anyway, try not
to let it eat at you. What matters
is that you’re healthy, and that’s
something only you and your doc-
tor can determine.
Dear Annie: I totally recog-
nized my daughter’s experience
after she gave birth to my grand-
son in your recent column about
postpartum depression. It was
heartbreaking. Your identifica-
tion of it and your recommenda-
tions were spot on, but it concerns
me that you did not include med-
ication as an option, as well. Per-
haps you quite correctly assumed
the therapist would prescribe an
appropriate medication, but you
missed an opportunity to inform
the public that additional help in
the form of medication is out there
for many.
In my daughter’s case, the
proper medication was what
finally enabled her to break free
and begin the path to regaining
her old self and enjoying her son.
It took her eight months to realize
medication was what she needed.
She looks back now and wishes
she did not wait so long.
Thank you for bringing atten-
tion to the all-too-common issue
of postpartum depression. Too
many people write it off as baby
blues and don’t seek out help. I’m
happy to say my daughter is back
to her old self, while still on med-
ication, and my grandson is now 8
years old, the joy of our lives.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). When to
speak and when the unspoken says more;
when to open and when to close the door;
when rhyming’s good and when to make
the words not sound alike at all: You’ll sense
these things and more today.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It’s the same
with the peacocks and the toads and the
pufferfish, this instinct to make yourself big-
ger to discourage those who threaten you
and encourage those you desire. It doesn’t
work every day, but today it will.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ve told
this story before, and you didn’t like how
it played. Don’t blame yourself. It’s not the
story. It’s yours, and it’s good. It just needs
some tweaking. Answer this: What do you
want them to feel at the end?
CANCER (June 22-July 22). When you
really give it thought, you despise the idea
that so many are rallying behind. You can’t
take on every injustice, but this accepted
part of the backdrop is now bothering you
too much for you to remain passive.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’re optimistic.
You don’t want to hear sad stories — i.e.,
any story you can’t do anything about. How-
ever, avoid trying to turn the story around.
Don’t twist it into taffy or spin it into cotton
candy. Leave it be.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Destruction
is a positive force for you today. You’ll tear
down the fixture that is causing you stress
and build in its place something functional,
lovely and reflective of the real you.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Everyone is
promoting an agenda. Most are doing so
unconsciously. Here’s where you’ll have an
edge today. Promote consciously, no apolo-
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
gies. You can feel good about going for what
you want.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There’s a
clown in every class. You’re it today — the
one who makes people laugh and smile
with a much-needed disruption. Of course,
half the grace of clowning is knowing when
to get off the joke.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Love
takes on many forms. Sometimes love looks
like people debating, competing or ignoring
one another, as offering comment, opposi-
tion or space can be an extremely loving act.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re
still forming a habit and it’s still hard, but
don’t worry. It will be hard tomorrow and the
next day, too. One day you’ll wake up and it
won’t be hard anymore. It will just be who
you are.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your en-
thusiasm for life will attract different respons-
es from different people. Some may go mild,
or laugh, or walk away. Others may finance
your dreams.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You should
be the one to organize the gathering. Along
with your common-sense approach to so-
cializing, you have an added psychic sense
that makes your invite list a perfect mix.
FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 28). The
thing you wanted to make your own will fi-
nally be yours. Happiness! But wait — work-
ing out the maintenance plan is key through
the next 10 weeks. There’s a don’t-miss in-
vestment opportunity in November. A family
victory will happen because of you in Jan-
uary. Lifestyle upgrades happen in August.
Sagittarius and Aquarius adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 7, 20, 3, 14 and 9.