THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2017
FEATURES
Liking the independent life
Dear Annie: I moved out they are just missing you. Don’t
and started living on my own let them make you feel guilty.
several years ago, and I have You might point out to them that
fallen in love with living inde- they did such a great job raising
pendently. However, over the you that you have the self-con-
years, my parents’ insistence fidence to live independently
that I move back near home and start your own life. You’re
only 300 miles away
has increased. Despite
DEAR
— which, by the way,
being only an hour
is driving distance —
away by plane (about
ANNIE
so perhaps plan a few
300 miles), they insist
more trips home this
that I “need to be within
year. And who knows?
driving distance in case
If you decide to have
anything happens.”
kids someday, you
My parents are both
might want to be close
still working and by no
to home so Grandma
means need to be cared
Lane
and Grandpa can help
for. If they do need Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
with baby-sitting.
to be cared for when
Dear Annie: This is
they’re older, I will
probably move back closer to in response to last month’s letter
from “Dog Lover,” who wants
them. I’m an only child.
But right now, the guilt trip- to get another dog but can’t
ping is getting out of hand, and because his wife has refused. I
it makes me enjoy my phone can understand the wife’s posi-
calls with them less. Lately, tion. I have been married for
I don’t feel like calling them over 53 years and have had
much, but that bums me out, many cats and dogs as pets in
too. How do I let my parents the household. Granted, I have
know that I need to be on my been the one to bring them
own without hurting their feel- home, but I have also been the
one who has done all the care-
ings? — Child Forever
Dear Child: As annoying taking. My animals have always
as it might be, you will always been trained and well-treated.
be their little girl, and I’m sure My husband has enjoyed them
all but has never put the time in.
I have to do the work necessary
to have a healthy, happy pet.
A dog is like a child. Some-
one has to train it (which most
people don’t even know how to
do) feed it, give it quality time,
clean up after it, take it to see
a doctor, be prepared to expend
large amounts of money on it
if necessary, groom it, keep it
clean and, most of all, love it
like a family member.
Many people get pets and
then, after a while, totally drop
the ball, ignoring or even abus-
ing it. Then it’s off to the pound
or thrown out of a car on a back
road.
I suggest that this man vol-
unteer at a shelter. When the
right animal comes along, he
can invite his wife to meet it,
and they can decide together
whether they want the responsi-
bility of a pet and discuss who
would be responsible for what.
If they decide together it’s the
right thing to do for them, then
they can give a needy furry
friend a home.
All my pets have been res-
cue animals, and they have all
been wonderful family pets.
— Mary
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Face and process
your emotions in a controlled, safe environment
— home alone, writing in a diary or hitting the
pillow or the punching bag. This will prevent your
feelings from coming out in uncontrollable ways.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You feel nervous
around certain people. Maybe it’s not as cute
as it is in the movies. Maybe your body is really
trying to tell you something about the dynamics
of the relationship. Maybe your body is saying,
“Run!”
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When there’s no
clear path, you either make one or turn around
and go home. Much will depend on how im-
portant it is to you and yours that you reach the
destination you had in mind.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your worth isn’t
tied to another person, no matter who — no
matter how powerful — that person might be.
Seize the opportunity to assert your indepen-
dence, if only to prove to yourself that you’re
whole on your own.
you” by making bad, self-destructive choices.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It’s not always the
case, but today things will work when they’re
right and they won’t work when they’re not right.
Therefore, don’t spend a lot of energy on trying
to make something work when it’s just not click-
ing in. Move along.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re in a
mood to ignore what you need to do, but the fact
that you need to do it doesn’t go away. Remem-
ber why. Remind yourself of the end goal. Want
harder, and the motivation will come.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The silliness
and absurdities of life don’t get past you. Making
someone laugh will be your specialty today, and
it will make you happy to know you spread gales
of joy across the heart of another.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). True, there’s
much you have to fix and more you have to do,
but don’t focus there if you can help it. Focus
instead on growing what’s already going excep-
tionally well.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The performer in you
comes with a thicker skin than most — part of
the package deal. Because of this, you don’t
realize how delicate some people’s feelings
really are — something to be extremely aware
of today.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ve been
known to lose track of what makes you happy.
When something makes you smile and laugh,
make a note. It will help remind you to make
more of these moments happen. Plus, when
you look back, you’ll relive the joy.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Of course you want
fun; who doesn’t? But letting yourself have it
whenever you want it is a recipe for weakness.
Like a good parent, gently remind your inner
child of the rewards for sticking to the job at
hand until it’s done.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 4). Your path
of compassion will lead you to care for needy
individuals who turn out to give you exactly
what you didn’t know you needed and so much
more. A reunion is in store. April begins a kind
of treasure hunt. It’s something else that makes
your heart happy in March, but the extra money
doesn’t hurt, either. Scorpio and Cancer adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 20, 18, 3 and
22.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). To have a vendetta in
your heart can be a very motivating and positive
force if used correctly. The “I’ll show you” energy
is powerful. Just note: No one ever “showed
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