8A
FEATURES
A family’s religious divide
Dear Annie: My husband, who go against his wishes. Forget about
is serving in the Army, is loving and having it in a non-Catholic way,
caring and is a wonderful father to because I’d end up disappointing
his two children. He works hard for my family. I am torn between what
his family. He just has one flaw: He my family wants and what my hus-
has a very strong contempt for the band wants. I hate being the middle
woman and just don’t want to do it
Roman Catholic Church.
at all. — The Torn Middle
My family raised me
DEAR
Woman
Catholic, but I left the
Dear Torn: Instead
church because of a lack of
ANNIE
of considering yourself
interest. I consider myself
the “middle woman,”
a part-timer (attending
you might want to think
during holidays). When I
of yourself as the leader
brought up about how he
of the pack. Take it upon
felt about getting married
yourself to find a coun-
in a church, he went into a
selor with whom you and
tirade. I never brought up
Annie Lane
your husband can discuss
the subject again.
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
this matter and with whom
When our son was
your husband might con-
born, I considered having
a baptism at my church because tinue to meet one-on-one. He must
it’s a tradition in my family — address the anger and hurt that this
and he threatened to leave. I asked horrible trauma inflicted on him.
him why he has such strong feel- The Survivors Network of those
ings about this, wondering whether Abused by Priests offers many
something happened in his past. resources, from free downloadable
He finally told me that when he literature to a directory of support
was a child, he was close to a priest groups. Visit http://www.snapnet-
who ended up taking advantage of work.org for more information.
Dear Annie: I was disappointed
him. It was a shock. He requested
that I not share this with anyone. I in your response to the 25-year-old
woman whose friend wants to go
decided to honor his wishes.
Now I just had my daughter. His to parties given by men she doesn’t
family and my family would like to really know. The friend admit-
have a baptism, but I do not want to ted that she didn’t know the peo-
ple throwing one party that well but
said they would have “good beer
and hot guys.” You told the letter
writer to “loosen up” and be “less
judgmental.” Do you not read the
news or watch TV? Last night on
TV, it was said that people are now
encouraged to take a bottle opener
with them and never drink from a
container that is already open. It is
too easy to slip drugs into a drink
at a party, and you should be espe-
cially careful if you don’t really
know the people handing out the
drinks. Too many young women
are being drugged without their
knowledge.
One of the new drugs cannot be
tasted and can put you into a coma.
One young woman showed up at
the emergency room in a coma. She
had been somewhere, drunk what
she thought was a simple Moun-
tain Dew and ended up in a coma.
My advice is to never go to a party
where you don’t know the people
well and only drink a drink that you
have opened. Those were my rules
for my kids. — Safe Is Best
Dear Safe: I agree that safety is
paramount. However, I stand by my
advice that “Murky Waters” ought
not to dismiss her best friend’s new
friends out of hand, even if she
doesn’t want to go out to parties.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). When you’re
grown, no one has to sign a permission slip
for you to go on the field trip, you just go.
Maybe you forgot this and you’re still waiting
for permission to adventure. Grant it to your-
self and take off.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Carefully
consider the story you’re presenting to the
world. A minor reworking in the way you talk
about yourself and/or your business will be
the difference between creating attraction
and neutrality.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your desire to
make other people’s lives better will make
yours better, too. Note that “easier” is some-
times better, but not always. Be careful not to
confuse the two.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). What sty-
mies you in today’s situation is that you have
a motive at all. Recognize what you want out
of this and then let it go. Decide instead that
you simply want the best for all involved.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). They’ll tell you
that balance is a myth. They may be right.
However, since each person is weighted dif-
ferently (both psychically and physically) no
one can define balance for another person.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Not every-
thing is going to work, but something should!
When one attempt after another lands in
disarray, it’s time to step back, look at the
broad view and examine your motives in
relation to this scene.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). People feel
as though you’re confiding in them when
actually what you’re passing off as secret
information is a carefully crafted message
suitable for anyone. It’s called political savvy.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Recent learning
has you a little more aware of how the world
works than you were yesterday. This doesn’t
make you feel cynical. On the contrary, it
makes you feel empowered.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If your self-as-
sessment acts strictly in concert with
external assessments, you’re headed in a
direction that can only lead to unhappiness,
emptiness and confusion. To be sure this is
not the case, shut out external assessments.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Though you
thrive in neatness and order, consider that
a messy and authentic existence might be
better than the monotony that comes with
having it all figured out.
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
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You don’t
know exactly what to do next and you don’t
have to know. You’re aware that a change is
coming though. The most productive action
will be clearing space for something to grow.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). As the sign
of the fish, you sympathize with the plight
of sharks. Life is movement. You have to
keep going to keep breathing. Water flowing
over the gills gets oxygen (and in your case,
inspiration) to that incredible brain.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (March 31).
Over time, the breeze transforms the moun-
tain, penetrates rocks, influences the growth
of trees. With powerful gentleness you’ll
effect great change. May brings frivolous
events that seriously benefit you. Your grate-
ful heart attracts one who will spoil you. An
August contract will augment your fortunes.
Capricorn and Aquarius adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 9, 30, 20, 22 and 1.