THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2017
FEATURES
The forgotten parents
Dear Annie: I am writ- father. I hope that they see
ing because another Moth- themselves in this letter and
er’s Day will soon be upon do a gut check. Their father
us and, once again, my grown loves them very much, but
stepchildren — who were he is accustomed to not being
grown and on their own when included, so he hides his pain
their parents divorced — will from them. Since we mar-
ignore me. Every
ried, he has leaned
DEAR
year, they celebrate
more on me, seeing
Mother’s Day without
as they don’t ever
ANNIE
thinking of me at all.
call him just to chat. I
That wouldn’t hurt
call my dad regularly,
so much if I could
and my husband was
write it off as just my
astounded when he
being a stepparent —
learned that. I hurt
but every Father’s
for him and for them
Day, they include
because they have no
Lane
their stepfather in the Annie
idea how they hurt us,
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
celebration.
and we will never let
them know.
Many other times,
Is it asking too much to be
they share with their mother
and stepfather whatever news included in their news? We
they have — a new vehi- share our news with them and
cle they bought, the name of don’t leave them out, as far as
their unborn baby, etc. Their I can tell. They are very fami-
father and I do eventually ly-oriented, just not with their
learn most news, but it’s usu- dad. — Midwestern Step-
ally long after the fact. We all mother Loving Them From
get along, and there is abso- the Outside
Dear Midwestern: The
lutely no animosity at all
among any of us; we love sentence that most struck me
them, and we both love the in your letter was this: “They
former in-laws. All I ask is for have no idea how they hurt
them to treat their father as us, and we will never let them
well as they treat their step- know.” Your husband hides
his pain from them, so for
all they know, he’s fine with
talking only once in a while.
They may even think he pre-
fers it that way. This is the sta-
tus quo they’re used to, and
until you take the initiative to
call more and speak up about
your wish to be included,
your stepchildren will con-
tinue in their current pattern.
So shake up the routine. Call
them often. Invite them to
visit, and go visit them. Let
them know how much you
value the time together.
Dear Annie: This is in
response to “Distracted by
His Distraction,” who is both-
ered by her long-term part-
ner’s wandering eyes when-
ever they’re out together.
Maybe the only way her part-
ner will get the message is if
she does likewise — sets her
eyes and attention on a hand-
some man in the restaurant.
— CR in New York
Dear CR: Not a bad idea.
I’m not normally an advo-
cate of the eye-for-an-eye
approach, but in this case,
perhaps “Distracted” would
do well to illustrate her point
with an ogle for an ogle.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Children playing
on the playground often don’t have to have the
rules clearly explained to them. They just join in
with a willing spirit and soon absorb the rhythm
of the game, much like you will today.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Music carries
emotion, teases it out, adds layers of the stuff
to the moments, charges memory, invigorates,
exhausts, confounds, comforts and changes
you. That’s why it’s worth your while to choose
your own soundtrack.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’d be wise to
pause and decide very carefully how you’re go-
ing to interact with loved ones today. Negativity
will be difficult to get past. It will take at least five
positive interactions to nullify even one slightly
negative interaction.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Society pre-
fers it when personal information can be neatly
categorized. Today you’ll find yourself toying
with different ways to frame information to find
the most socially palatable presentation.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re not the only
subject in the experiment called life, but when
you’re alone in your room it certainly feels that
way. Connect with the others. Share data. You’ll
mess around with the outcome in a good way
today.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). To be grateful
for circumstances you do not prefer might seem
like setting up an internal diametric opposition
— akin to tipping well for bad service. And yet,
finding something to appreciate in a mess will
attract good luck.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll lead with
your courage-filled heart today. It’s not always
wise to be brave, and yet if everyone were to
stop and dwell upon the possible consequenc-
es, there wouldn’t be any heroes among us.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). For friendship,
love and even certain business decisions, a
mental match is essential. If you don’t like how a
person thinks, you’re not going to want to share
your ideas, plans and daily doings with that
person on the regular.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). When you’re not getting
anywhere by looking at the problem head on,
you cock your head to the side and suddenly
you have a new slant on it. Bonus: Your bril-
liance will be celebrated by those smart enough
to get you.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You don’t want to
spend your time fake laughing. No one does!
And today you won’t have to. Someone can
make you laugh for real, and that humor-click
will set off a lucky chain of events.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). When you love
someone, flaws are part of the package. A ma-
ture person recognizes that trying to extract the
flawed parts in order to love only the suitable
parts isn’t really love at all.
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
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There was a time
you enjoyed the escape of dreaming you were
someone else. Currently, you find that loving
who you are creates far more energy in your
life.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (May 4). The love
you receive over the course of this solar return
will lift your spirits and fill your reserves until
you have even more to give than you ever did.
Also, a special relationship will teach you to
tune into others even better than you already do.
You’ll win money this month. June and August
represent big professional opportunity. Leo and
Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6,
40, 5, 38 and 18.