THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017
FEATURES
A few tips for trying times
Dear Annie: Our family is the bathrooms you use are left
going through the end-of-life chal- clean. Offer to shop for groceries,
lenges of my husband’s final ill- run errands, walk the dog and take
ness. We have always been close, us out if your father is up to it. And
and our children, who live nearby, consider cooking a meal for us.
have really stepped up to assist Check the car. Is the tire pressure
him — and me — in these final good? Is it gassed up?
Look around you pro-
months of home hospice
DEAR
actively; if something
care. In all the important
needs fixing, offer to take
ways, we are supporting
ANNIE
care of it. Ask whether I
one another emotionally
need coverage so that I can
and otherwise. But there
make my own appoint-
are a few rough edges,
ments. I lose sight of these
and I thought a list com-
things with the demands
posed by someone going
of feeding, bathing and
through this might help
dressing your father. The
another family with this
Annie Lane
weekly hospice support
ordeal.
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
is limited and focuses
To the children visit-
mostly on nursing care.
ing: Mom is no longer the
To my beloved grandchildren:
cook, maid or hotelier. That was
fine and freely given for holidays, Just be yourselves. No need to tip-
but this is no holiday. If you come toe around. Your grandfather likes
for a visit, make up your own the clamor of your play and to
bed, and change and launder your hear your stories. Just try to keep
sheets and linens before you leave. the peace among you. Help your
And how about offering to throw parents clean up your toys. Tell
in some of the towels and sheets your memories and stories of your
for your father, folding them and grandpa to us, and help us make
new memories.
helping to change our bed?
My beloved kids and grand-
If I cook, you’re in charge of
the cleanup — and reach out to be children have been wonderful in
sure the garbage is emptied, paper all the important ways — spend-
towels are in the holder, the refrig- ing loving quality time with us and
erator is occasionally cleaned and sharing activities and memories.
But like all people, they fall back
into the habits of visiting children,
and I hope these suggestions will
be of help to others. — Sad Nana
With So Much to Be Thankful For
Dear Sad: This is a beautiful
letter. I hope you’ve already shared
all of these requests with your chil-
dren. If not, please do. I’m sure
that helping you would bring them
some solace in this trying time.
Dear Annie: I enjoyed reading
about “Fussy Larry,” the man who
is constantly complaining about
the free food his friends cook for
him. I have a loved one who, like
Fussy Larry, can sometimes be
ungraciously and needlessly crit-
ical of things I make. When that
happens, I give him a big happy
smile and say, “Then I have won-
derful news: Nobody is going to
make you eat it!” It doesn’t change
his behavior, but it ramps down my
irritation considerably. — Maggie
Dear Maggie: I totally agree
with that tactic. In familiar situ-
ations such as this one, a humor-
ously blunt response is sometimes
the best mirror to hold up to a per-
son so he might reflect on his rude
behavior. Plus, as you mentioned,
it can help deflect your feelings of
annoyance, and that alone is a win
in my book.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You feel like you’re
in your own little world, but know that others
are very aware of you now. “If you reveal your
secrets to the wind, you should not blame the
wind for revealing them to the trees.” — Kahlil
Gibran
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Everyone will
bring something to the table, though not neces-
sarily a tangible thing. Some will bring an idea,
a talent for receptivity, a custom, a grateful heart
and much expressed pleasure in the opportu-
nity at hand.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). There’s so much
you have access to, and you’re a curious per-
son, ready to learn all you can and experience
the richness of life. Self-regulation is, therefore,
among your biggest challenges.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). For you,
adrenaline isn’t a hormone that kicks in on an
emergency-only basis; rather, it’s a daily boost.
Your high-energy style will be well suited for the
challenges of the day.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re more con-
cerned with achievement than reward. In fact,
the reward, as far as you’re concerned, is the
achievement. The accolades can be nice, but
they can also be embarrassing and cause more
pressure than they are worth.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re happy
when the people you love are happy. There
is one person in particular whose happiness
means the most to you, and you’re likely to
spend a lot of time, money and energy on
making this person smile.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). New research
suggests that you might do yourself some good
by talking to yourself, especially if you’re saying
encouraging or compassionate things, and
most especially if you’re saying them out loud.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Sometimes it
is more gracious to have a little of what’s being
offered to you than to abstain. The gestures and
rituals around togetherness will have greater
meaning today.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Take on the small, eas-
ily won challenges. Building up a track record of
success will give you the confidence you need
to go for the more remarkable and difficult op-
portunities coming your way in the near future.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). As artistic and
imaginative as you are, you still admire those
who lack pretension, are too laid back to strive
and too chill to social-climb. Your values are right
in line with all that it takes to create meaningful,
lasting friendships.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Belonging isn’t
about fitting together perfectly, having a lot in
common or agreeing on most things. Belonging
is about acceptance. Be inclusive. Set a tone of
friendliness and compassion. Foster a sense of
unconditional belonging.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The nearness of in-
teresting and well-traveled people or the pull of
exotic lands will activate your adventurous spirit.
If you make discovery a priority you’ll definitely
find the necessary resources.
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
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (May 3). Since
a person’s knowledge only goes as far as his
or her experiences, and because your sincere
desire is for a wealth of knowledge, you’ll open
yourself to discovery, dive into mysteries and
let curiosity carry you to different parts of the
world. The funds come in June and November.
August begins a serious bond. Libra and Leo
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 40, 4, 47
and 13.