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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 23, 2017)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 FEATURES Bridesmaid reciprocity Dear Annie: I’m engaged to Now to the problem: Do I have a man who is the love of my life, to ask my sisters-in-law to be my and I couldn’t be more ecstatic. bridesmaids? Or can I just ask my My fiance, “Anthony,” proposed friends? I know that some brides last week. We’ve tentatively set the today have eight (or more) brides- date for next spring, and now I’m maids, but I’d like to keep it to starting to do some preliminary four. I have no idea what the eti- quette here is. I’ve read wedding planning. I’m DEAR things online saying that facing a dilemma regard- you should pick whom- ing bridesmaids. ANNIE ever you want because it’s I’m the youngest of your wedding, but I could five siblings, and I’m the use some objective and only girl. Yes, I have four realistic advice. Thanks elder brothers. (To answer in advance. — Always a the question almost every- Bridesmaid, Now a Bride one asks upon learning Dear Always: Do you that fact, no, they were not Lane have to ask your sisters- overprotective of me. In Annie Creators Syndicate Inc. in-law to be bridesmaids? fact, they teased me quite No. Should you? Yes, if a bit.) Anyway, all of my brothers are married, meaning I you want to promote harmony in finally have some sisters. I was a your family and grow closer with bridesmaid in all four weddings the women your brothers married. I know I’ll hear from readers and the maid of honor in one of them. I’m not extremely close with insisting that reciprocity is not a any of my sisters-in-law, but I love stipulation of being a bridesmaid. Just because a bride included you them, of course. They’re family. My conundrum is that I also in her wedding party does not have four best friends — two from mean you have to return the honor. high school and two from college I completely agree with that. But — whom I would like to be my this is family. Though your sisters- bridesmaids. They’re like sisters to in-law would probably not hold me, too. Only one of them is mar- any grudges if you didn’t ask them, ried so far, but I was a bridesmaid I’m certain they would forever be touched by the gesture if you did. in her wedding. Your best friends should under- stand that better than anyone. Dear Annie: “Tired of Wedding Freeloaders” does not appreciate wedding guests who attend the fes- tivities but who give a gift whose value is less than the cost of their participating. She considers a gift of $100 for two people an insult. Her opening sentence questioned how many times you go out to eat and expect a free meal. Your answer — to invite loved ones because you love them and want them there — was adequate, but I feel it didn’t go far enough. “Tired” needs to realize that when people go out to eat, they always choose a restaurant they can afford. When they attend a wedding, their only choice is to go or not to go. They have no control over the venue or the menu or the cost. Weddings can be simple or extrav- agant, but the bride is usually the one who makes most of the deci- sions. If the math does not work for her, she needs to scale back her wedding plans and/or invite fewer guests. — Imagine Dear Imagine: I absolutely agree with you, and I’ve advised other brides that way in the past. Thank you for adding that senti- ment here. 5A TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). You can make a promise about what you’ll do, because you have a reasonable amount of control over that. To make a promise about how you’ll feel, though — it’s just not something you can predict at this time. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Life will be sweet. Today will present you with an embarrassment of riches. Such a thing can be dangerous. Better to share with a friend than to have the whole pie to yourself. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Some say that it’s possible to know the character of a person through his or her errors. Others suggest the better moments point the way to a person’s soul. Right now it will be enough just to pay close attention, for better or worse. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Something a tad jarring may stir you from the comfort- able spot you were in. The trouble with waking up to reality is that, once awake, you have to confront that you were, in some sense, asleep. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You tell yourself to do something and then do the opposite. That’s just human. Sometimes you can tolerate this, other times, like today, you can overcome it. You’ll clear away the contradictions wherever possible. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Relationships are complicated, sure. Is a never-ending, always-growing love even really possible? Believe that it is. Cynicism is the enemy of love. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It’s not always so easy to find common ground with peo- ple, but when you can’t find it, you still will 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 find a way of showing support. Your eyes and attitude will say it all. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). It’s exciting where you are right now in your life. It’s not perfect, and there is still room for growth. But you’ve accomplished something, and you’ll build on that. Feel good about it. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re not aiming to get a return on your rela- tionships. You go with your heart and your attractions. The fact that you are rewarded so richly today is a bonus. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The more desirable a scene is, the more people want it all to themselves. Don’t be discouraged. With enough intention and will, you’ll soon break through. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Don’t worry about making choices that are in keeping with the current style. Fashion doesn’t even apply to you now. Your classic ways and tastes will always be in favor. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You won’t ex- actly solve the problem going on between two people you love, but you can make it better by hearing both sides and being generally neutral. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (March 24). You’ll see more of the world this year. A change of venue brings something fresh and fiery to your personal life. In April you’ll reach back and fix something that you broke a few years ago. June is for stretch- ing your emotional muscles and taking risks with your heart. August will introduce you to new income. Scorpio and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 30, 20, 1 and 18.