THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2017
FEATURES
Suspicious of dad’s girlfriend
Dear Annie: Two years after can’t move in yet because she’s
my mentally ill mother passed “still cleaning out” her current
away, my retired 76-year-old place. Yet my dad just revised the
father, “Juan,” started dating a deed to give her the house upon
61-year-old woman, “Lucy.” At his passing.
My sister and I question
first, Lucy was friendly to my
sister and me, and we hoped we Lucy’s intentions, and we’re wor-
ried she’s using my dad.
could fill a gap, because
DEAR
Our small family is now
she was estranged from
divided in a way I never
her own family and had
ANNIE
thought possible. Any
lost her previous husband
suggestions about how
in a tragic New Year’s
to salvage the relation-
Eve accident years prior.
ship with my father with-
She has no children of her
out causing his girlfriend
own. My family, includ-
to further isolate him
ing my three children, was
from my sister and me?
welcoming. My father is
Lane
— Looking to Bridge the
kind and generous to Lucy Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Girlfriend Divide
with trips and gifts, and
Dear Looking: Sharks
it’s good he has someone
can smell blood from a mile away.
who brings that out in him.
But now, as the relationship Your father has probably been
has progressed, they are shut- hurting and feeling lonely for a
ting us out of their lives. Lucy has long time. He was vulnerable.
caused rifts between us with gos- I’m not prepared to declare Lucy
sip and talking behind our backs. a shark just based on your letter;
She persuaded him to buy a house it’s possible that she truly loves
and move away from his network your father and you and she just
of friends and family. She pushed have your differences. If she’s a
my father into using my sister’s shark, her fin will surface in time.
and my trust assets to buy said In the meantime, consult a law-
house, and she doesn’t actually yer to explore any legal options
live with my father. He’s rented you might have should things with
her an apartment of her own for Lucy and your dad escalate. Even
three years now. She says she more importantly, be as much a
part of your dad’s life as possible
so that he is not isolated. Take him
to lunch, or go for walks together.
The more he feels connected to
family the less dependent he will
be on his girlfriend.
Dear Annie: This is in
response to “Worried Times Two,”
who were concerned about their
potentially unsafe ex-daughter-
in-law’s having custody of their
grandchildren. You may be inter-
ested in suggesting that in this sit-
uation, their son could ask the
judge or magistrate to appoint a
special advocate. It would be in
the best interest of the children.
Court-appointed special guardians
can do amazingly thorough inves-
tigations and make recommenda-
tions to the court. I felt very sad
about the situation described and
have been involved over the past
24 years as an advocate in similar
situations. I would like these chil-
dren to get the help they need. —
Court-Appointed Special Advo-
cate/Guardian Ad Litem
Dear CASA/GAL: I appre-
ciate your bringing such a great
resource to my attention. Thank
you. Those interested in having
an advocate appointed can visit
http://www.casaforchildren.org
for more information.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re seeking
inspiration, and you’ll find it both in those you
want to be like and in those you don’t want to
be like. Stand where you can see and hear
the people you find interesting.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It’s the perfect
moment to do a mental scan of your current
skillset to remind yourself of what you’re good
at and what you’d like to get good at. (If you
don’t know what you’re good at, you’ll miss the
chance to sell it!)
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There’s no reason
to bargain with boredom. Instead, take this
emotion as a flag that signals it is time to
shake things up, put things back, write things
down or all of the above.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Everyday life is
rich. You sense this and appreciate it. Some-
one else will help you in this regard, enjoying
the details and the particular way you attend
to them.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Do the most import-
ant thing first. Once that’s out of the way, you
can relax. The relaxed you is more effective,
because an easygoing mindset helps you re-
sist getting caught up in the extraneous parts
that ultimately won’t matter.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Although it would
be wonderful to find a perfect showcase for
your work, the fact is that there probably isn’t
one yet. You’ll have to make one, or one will
be made to accommodate the work, once
you do it.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’re attracted
to a type of person who may or may not be
good for you. This is a day of noticing — of ob-
serving yourself and how you change or don’t
around the people you spend your life with.
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). The relationship
requirements are not rules, more like patterns.
You set up the expectation early on and keep
delivering in one way or another. Now you
don’t like what’s being required of you, and
today is about changing it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You don’t
have to be lost to wonder how you’re going to
find your way to the next place. If you’re not
too proud to ask for directions, you’ll get there
faster. Sidle up to an expert and you’ll learn
more than you asked for.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Anger is
not like a drug; it is a drug. It alters a person’s
chemistry more effectively than a lot of other
substances. Keep this in mind while dealing
with people who seem to lean on this emo-
tion. Maybe it’s not about you.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). “No comment”
is always an option. No one (other than your
own brain) is commanding you to speak. By
not weighing in with an opinion, you’ll leave
your options open.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You don’t expect
people to be what they are not. Everyone is
quirky. You realize this and act accordingly.
People love you for that. You’ll be the most
nonjudgmental person on your block.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (June 15). Aug-
mented powers of observation will help you
to better sense what people want and grow in
your capacity to deliver. It’s good to be in de-
mand, and when this has to do with business,
you’ll be paid handsomely. Lucky meetings
happen in August and November. Money
comes from out of the blue in July. Aries and
Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9,
40, 22, 27 and 50.