6A
FEATURES
A companion for all time
Dear Annie: Ten years ago, sarcoma. The vet gave him three
I was transferred to Chicago for months to live. My husband and I
work. I didn’t know anyone and were devastated. I simply couldn’t
found myself very lonely the first imagine life without this dog. He
year. One winter night while I had been such a wonderful com-
was out picking up Chinese take- panion to us. Two months after
out for dinner, I heard barking his diagnosis, he passed away.
and saw a little black and
Since then, I have been
DEAR
white puppy under a tree. I
so depressed. I am hav-
looked around everywhere
ing trouble concentrat-
ANNIE
and saw no signs of an
ing at work. This compan-
owner. He was very young,
ion who was there through
and it was very cold, so I
so much of my life is now
took him home.
gone. My husband is sad,
too, but keeps trying to
I put up signs with his
tell me to snap out of it.
picture. No one responded.
I am so sad; I can’t. How
I decided to “adopt” him. I
Annie Lane
named him Snoopy.
can I get over this loss? —
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Grieving for Snoopy
Having the companion-
Dear Grieving: I am
ship of a dog really helped
with my loneliness. I went out for so sorry for your loss. I, too, am an
walks and took him to the dog park animal lover and understand how
on weekends. Snoopy even helped much animals truly are members of
me meet my husband. You see, one the family. It sounds as if you gave
Saturday afternoon at the dog park, Snoopy a great home. Take com-
Snoopy started playing with a huge fort in knowing that you gave him
black Labrador. The Lab’s owner a wonderful life, the best life he
came up to me, and we struck up a could have asked for. Though you
conversation. Long story short, we will never forget Snoopy, I promise
were married within three years. that time will lessen the pain. I’ve
(We had our dogs walk down the always found comfort in a poem by
aisle to give them credit for intro- Steve and Diane Bodofsky, “The
Rainbow Bridge”:
ducing us.)
“By the edge of a woods, at
Fast-forward 10 years. Snoopy
was diagnosed with hemangio- the foot of a hill, is a lush, green
meadow where time stands still.
“Where the friends of man and
woman do run, when their time on
earth is over and done.
“For here, between this world
and the next, is a place where each
beloved creature finds rest.
“On this golden land, they wait
and they play, till the Rainbow
Bridge they cross over one day.
“No more do they suffer, in
pain or in sadness, for here they
are whole, their lives filled with
gladness.
“Their limbs are restored, their
health renewed, their bodies have
healed, with strength imbued.
“They romp through the grass,
without even a care, until one day
they start, and sniff at the air.
“All ears prick forward, eyes
dart front and back, then all of a
sudden, one breaks from the pack.
“For just at that instant, their
eyes have met; together again, both
person and pet.
“So they run to each other, these
friends from long past, the time of
their parting is over at last.
“The sadness they felt while
they were apart, has turned into joy
once more in each heart.
“They embrace with a love that
will last forever, and then, side-by-
side, they cross over ... together.”
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Yes, life is full
of contradiction. It’s also full of tautology. Re-
dundancy is validation. It’s comforting when
things are as they seem to be, people work
together as a team and love behaves lovingly.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). This process
you’re going through now is a kind of evolu-
tion. The elegance of evolution is especially
obvious when the circumstances change.
You might be surprised by what survives and
prevails.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The mystery
that baffles you in the a.m. will be so utterly
explainable tonight that it all seems rather
obvious. You’ll either help the others under-
stand, or you’ll help them be baffled so they
can enjoy the discovery process, too.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). As for the thing
that’s been gnawing at your curiosity: It’s time
to investigate it. You’ll get lucky. There are a
lot of questions that will be answered when
one or two facts have come to light.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Everyone is selfish
from time to time, but if it happens frequent-
ly, it’s more about your own tolerance than
anything else. Stand up for yourself. Get on
your own team. You don’t do anyone favors
by letting them behave badly.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It’s said that to
forgive is divine, but there’s no heavenly choir
of angels to accompany you when you let
go of your grievances today. Still, life will get
better for the gesture, and that counts for
something.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Does it really
matter if you were born this way or got there
through living? Embrace it; no further ques-
tions are necessary. To fully accept yourself
will be your best move yet.
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 may not
understand all of the factors that got you
here, but accept them. Humility is better
than arrogance; contribute as though you
deserve to be where you are. If you didn’t,
you wouldn’t be there.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You can
be proud of the relationships you’ve built and
even more proud of the fact that you keep
building. Friendships, after all, need continual
maintenance to thrive.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re
emotionally flexible and quite strong. Still,
you shouldn’t have to bend over backward to
get your love. If you find yourself doing this
trick time and again, seek different sources
of support.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Information
has a way of expanding to the capacity of
your curiosity. So the thing to ask yourself is:
“How much do I really want and/or need to
know?” Today will bring a case where more is
not necessarily better.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). From keys
and phones to friendships and jobs, most
of the things a person can lose in life can
be replaced. Not time. It’s the most precious
of your resources, which is why you’re so
mindful now not to waste it.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 14). Frie-
drich Nietzsche said: “Art is the proper task of
life.” You’ll flip it and turn proper tasks into art.
Your way of living will bring beauty and har-
mony to others. You’ll continually get stronger
as you home in on invigorating choices.
Friendships will blossom and multiply through
the spring. Singles will marry in June. Aquari-
us and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 9, 30, 25, 16 and 4.