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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 18, 2017)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017 FEATURES Erasing the stain of alcohol Dear Annie: My wife and how much they hurt her. I’ve I have been together for 30 already felt horrible about it; I years. The first 22 years of our don’t need her to remind me. marriage, I was drunk every I wish she would stop holding weekend and some week- it against me. I messed up, but nights. I’m not proud of the I’m trying to make it right. I guess I’m not really sure things I did and said. I’m not what my question happy about all the DEAR is, but I’m just look- quality time I missed ing for help erasing out on with our chil- ANNIE the stain alcohol has dren, who are now left on my marriage. grown and out of the Would appreciate your house. But I can’t thoughts. — Saved by undo what’s been Sobriety done, and dwelling on Dear Saved: Alco- the shame only leads holism is a family dis- me to the dark place Lane ease. It impacts every that makes me want to Annie Creators Syndicate Inc. member of the house- drink. So I try to focus hold. Although you on the positive. I thank the Lord for the second chance are recovering, your wife is he’s given me. I look to the not. Please encourage her to attend an Al-Anon meeting, future. The problem is that my where she can hear from others wife seems not to have gotten who have learned how to stop over the ways I wronged her “waiting for the other shoe to in the past. Even though I hav- drop.” You might also both en’t had a drink in eight years benefit from marriage counsel- (thanks to Alcoholics Anon- ing, which would offer a neu- ymous), I can tell she’s still tral space to air your feelings always waiting for the other and move toward understand- shoe to drop. She frequently ing. I commend you on your nags me to go to AA meet- years of sobriety and wish you ings. Sometimes she brings up many more. Dear Annie: This is in past events and tries to tell me response to “Still Interested” and anyone else who has the problem of having a wife who has lost interest in sex. As a wife of 40 years, I had the same problem after my hys- terectomy and going through menopause. I couldn’t tell my husband that it was very painful to have intercourse. I avoided any type of affec- tion for this reason. I was too embarrassed to talk about something so personal. I finally got up the nerve to tell my doctor. She said this is very common and prescribed a medicine to help. What a dif- ference! I can’t believe I went 15 years before I said any- thing. My husband is much happier. Please, women who are going through this: Talk to your husband and doctor. — A Happy Wife Dear Happy: Thank you for opening up about your experience. It’s yet another testament to the importance of communication in having a healthy sex life. If your letter encourages even one woman out there to talk to her doctor or open up to her husband, it’s worth its word count in gold. 5A TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). The current cosmic bent will help you realize the wondrous power of saying no, setting a boundary and enforcing a limit. Such a gesture will make love stronger and life simpler. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll take back your time from the digital bandits. You won’t answer the phone just because it rings or act on every electronic impulse demanding attention. You’ll enjoy a few distractions — distractions of your own choosing! GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Either your prayers will be answered, or that thing you do that’s a little like praying will be linked to some interest- ing results. Tonight, hone social skills, including the art of making a powerful entrance and a smooth exit. CANCER (June 22-July 22). For today, “Why?” is not the right question to ask. The question “How?” on the other hand, could change your life. It’s also a lucky day for running into the exact people who know about the “how,” and you should definitely take lots of notes. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You refuse to think of yourself as a victim of circumstance. There are alternatives to explore — hard to see when you’re invested in one way of being, but they are there nonetheless. Decide to see them. You always have choices. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Sometimes all it takes is a simple decision to feel different. It’s as though you’re an actor and the director has just walked up to you and told you to play the scene confident, empowered and ready to make the next winning move. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The potential for trou- ble lies in reacting to events in an emotional and unthinking way. Take a breath and be thoughtful 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 and deliberate in your response instead and you’ll avoid the trouble altogether. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Embrace the paradise of imperfect circumstances. Right now, exactly as you are, you’re good enough to do what you really want to do, to the best of your ability. Also, you’ll never be more ready. Go! SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There are people you you’re not happy around and yet can’t avoid altogether. When you have to deal with them, involve others. More people will dilute the power of one negative influence. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If you con- tradict someone, or even yourself, the energy of conflict will be ignited. This isn’t necessary! Acknowledge the things you can’t agree on. The validation may be all that’s necessary to discharge the bad energy. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ll be given gifts today, although they may be disguised as other things. Your definition of the term “gift” will be thereby expanded. Whether something is a gift or a bane is best determined over time. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You know what fun is to you. Stick with that today and the smiles keep coming, whereas subscribing to other people’s idea of fun might actually make you feel irritated, uncomfortable or worse. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (May 19). You are very much your own person this year, and you’ll be shedding old myths and definitions. The next10 weeks will do wonders for your satisfac- tion at work and also for your social ties. July presents a fun challenge and the ideal team- mate. November brings romantic proclamations. Save up through the colder months. Cancer and Leo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 40, 2, 22 and 18.
