THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017
FEATURES
Couple’s thrill is gone
Dear Annie: My wife’s important to discuss the for-
sexual desire disappeared with mer before getting into medic-
menopause, although there inal treatments. Is she stressed
was little desire even before about work or finances? How
then. I still like, need and is your marriage outside the
enjoy sex. We have had many bedroom? How does she feel
discussions about this conflict about your sex life? For more
insights, check out
between us but have
DEAR
“Wanting Sex Again:
been unable to resolve
How to Rediscover
it on our own. Appar-
ANNIE
Your Desire and Heal
ently, one of us will
a Sexless Marriage,”
be unhappy about the
by marriage coun-
outcome regardless of
selor and certified
what we do. My ques-
sex therapist Laurie
tion is: What do your
Watson.
readers do to resolve
Lastly, if you hav-
this conflict so that
Lane
en’t
done so already,
they and their spouses Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
consider seeing a
stay together? Do
marriage counselor.
you have any recom-
mendations? It is my strong With good communication,
impression that many mar- you and your wife could work
riages suffer from the same through this together, just as
you’ve worked through count-
conflict. — Still Interested
Dear
Still:
Though less issues over the years. Be
there’s no “right” frequency patient.
Dear Annie: This is in
with which all married cou-
ples should be having sex, response to “Daughter in Dis-
it’s important that both part- tress” and anyone who is con-
ners feel fulfilled. There are cerned because a parent is in a
a number of possible reasons nursing home and keeps ask-
your wife has lost interest in ing to go home. Please listen
recent years. The factors that to my experience.
My beloved mother suf-
influence sex drive range from
psychological to physical. It’s fered from gradually progres-
sive dementia for the last 10
years of her life. Because of
our circumstances, she was
able to get care from us in
her own home, but still she
used to plead, “I want to go
home.” A very kind caregiver
explained to me that what she
meant was she wanted to go
back to a better time, not a dif-
ferent place.
This
realization
has
come to me fully, as I still
mourn the loss of my par-
ents and my husband and find
myself crying out, “Please
take me home. I want to go
home.” I want to go back to
the emotional comfort of ear-
lier times, not to a different
place.
People should not ever feel
guilty when they place their
aging loved ones in well-run,
caring facilities to optimize
their care. — From a Differ-
ent Perspective
Dear Different: What
a beautiful, insightful and
heartbreaking letter. I’m so
sorry for your loss. I appre-
ciate your reaching out even
in your grief, as I’m sure
your words will resonate with
many readers.
3C
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). It’s said that
nothing worth having comes easily. Of course
that’s not true. People luck into easy, worth-
while things all the time. Wise people know to
appreciate such good fortune. You’ll be such a
person today.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). If you’re disap-
pointed in the actions of those around you, just
know that their perceptions are very different
from yours. They are only acting on what they
know. Perhaps you can educate them.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your mojo comes
and your mojo goes. You can ingratiate that
special charisma to stick around with you, but
you can’t totally control it. Be your own best
friend regardless of how popular you seem to
be at the minute.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll enjoy work-
ing on your personal style. It could mean add-
ing new words to your lexicon, spiffing up your
wardrobe or getting your domestic life running
in a more organized and/or elegant way.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). One of your talents
is dealing deftly with people who others find
difficult. You’ve a way of bringing out the best in
others, perhaps because you really see some-
thing to love in practically everyone.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Once you know
that you’re perfectly fine on your own, you can
enjoy circumstances for what they truly are
instead of using any pursuit or person as a
means of escape.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It’s time to break a
certain pattern that once served you well and
has since gotten stale. This most likely involves
another person. The interruption will add ener-
gy to your day, peace to your night.
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). Today, people
will take your lead about what to think about
you. When you feel great about who you are
and what’s going down, they’ll accept it without
question.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The one who
is flirting with you may have ulterior motives,
but those reasons are likely not the only reason
for the extra attention. You are, after all, fun to
flirt with!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Many relation-
ships don’t start off with a lot of reciprocity. It
may take a while for the mutual feelings to start
flowing. One-sided interest is perfectly accept-
able for a while until a solid dynamic starts to
take form.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). If today were a
slot machine it would be coming up all sevens:
only, the payout isn’t in coins; it’s in fortuitous
connections. Seize the opportunities. This type
of luck doesn’t come along very often.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). One thought
leads to the next and the next. It’s a mental
chain that you’d do well to break. No one else is
bringing up your past mistakes, so you should
let them go, too. Distract yourself with adven-
turous fun.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (April 29). Far-
fetched dreams will come true this year. What
happens over the next 10 weeks turns you into
the boss or another kind of powerful figure.
Use your talent for sensing people’s strengths,
and assign tasks accordingly. You’ll like the
turn your personal life takes in June. August
will bless your family. Capricorn and Aquarius
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 19, 44,
38 and 11.