6A
FEATURES
Being all that we can be
Dear Annie: Being 76 years ity, liberty and the pursuit of
old and in the twilight of my life, happiness.
I have truly “been there, done
We are all in this together.
that” in so many ways. I have Yes, we can overcome the hate,
seen much, done much and still racism, greed, selfishness, anger
search for much. I give thanks and fear. Let us come together
to all those who have helped and and be all that we can be. We
empowered me over my
can do this, for Amer-
DEAR
lifespan. I give thanks to
ica is (still) the great-
all those on whose backs
est! — John, Retired
ANNIE
and shoulders I have
Sergeant Major of the
stood all this time. Only in
U.S. Marine Corps
America could have I been
Dear John: I hear
so blessed and fortunate in
from so many peo-
receiving all my gifts of
ple who have had fall-
love, laughter and life.
ing-outs with family
members over poli-
I still see America as
Lane
being “half full,” rather Annie
tics in recent years. If
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
more of us adopted
than “half empty.” Amer-
your radiant opti-
ica is still great, because
she has an innate strength and mism, perhaps we could brighten
enduring stamina to heal her the times and bring people back
bruises and cleanse her wounds. together. Thank you, sir, for your
America is still great, because service and your wisdom.
Dear Annie: I’ve never writ-
she steadfastly promotes opti-
mism and assertively overcomes ten to an advice column, but here
pessimism. America is still great, goes nothing. I have to envy
because she indefatigably pro- “Too Fast for Me,” who has so
motes inspiration and consis- many close couple friends. My
husband and I really don’t have
tently defeats alienation.
I firmly believe that most any. The last time a couple asked
Americans want what is best for “just us” over was more than four
our fellow citizens and our coun- years ago.
We moved to our current
try: fairness, opportunity, respon-
sibility, education, respect, equal- town for school several years ago
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
and then stayed for work. We’re
now in our 60s and seem to be
ignored by everyone. The peo-
ple I worked with were 20 years
younger and now I don’t hear
from them. My church mem-
bers live 15 miles away and sev-
eral have rebuffed my efforts at
friendship. We have only a lit-
tle money for entertainment. I’m
also a part-time freelance writer,
an isolating, frustrating occupa-
tion. Sometimes I feel downright
lonesome. — Lonely in Virginia
Dear Lonely in Virginia:
Making friends is hard for most
of us. People are generally so
wrapped up in their own lives
that it doesn’t occur to them to
reach out. Don’t think this is a
reflection of some defect you
have. It’s just human nature.
Double your efforts. Check
out Meetup, a website that con-
nects local people around shared
interests — hiking, reading, knit-
ting and thousands of other activ-
ities. Volunteer somewhere. Do
anything that gets you out of the
house and socializing and taking
a break from a seemingly soli-
tary life. And to that last point: I
know how isolating the work of
a writer can be. You might feel
lonely, but you’re not alone.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your strengths are
powerful, so don’t obsess over your weakness-
es. Manage them instead. Find a workaround
for whatever gets in the way of your excellence.
Your trajectory will be a slow upward climb.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re highly moti-
vated by the intrinsic satisfaction of accom-
plishing your work, and the ancillary prizes,
while interesting, have little to do with that
drive of yours. You’re an emotional asset to the
group and a moneymaker too.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). So you’ve killed a
few plants. That doesn’t make you a plant killer.
There are those who think in extremes. Think
more reasonable than they. One example is
never a big enough sample pool to make a
rule out of.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). What do you do
when the cream of the crop turns out to be
skimmed milk? Just keep cooking. Anyway,
this no-frills version of the recipe will be a lot
healthier for you.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). When you put more
effort into creating and nurturing a relation-
ship, love will be abundantly (but perhaps not
immediately) there for you. These things take
time to grow.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). People want the
inside story from you, if you’re willing to share
it. Your personal experience is much more
valuable than anything that can be looked up
on the internet.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You see how
beautiful people are when they cannot seem
to see it in themselves. Your role will be to give
them a clue but not to try and convince them.
That won’t work. People have to go at their
own pace.
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). When you get
what you’re pursuing you’re going to feel the
same way about yourself as you do now. This
is why it’s important to get on great terms with
yourself. Check in. What would improve the
you-to-you relationship today?
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your ideas
about who you are and where you’re going
will be consistently in line with the group’s.
There’s a shared set of values here, along with
common goals and similar methods for getting
there. You’ll get there together.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). When you’re
giving love that can’t be felt and is instead
turned back on you, this is not your fault.
Those who do not love themselves will find
something wrong with anyone who loves
them.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It’s a day to
set personal boundaries, if only to prove that
you can. Without boundaries you’ll agree to do
things that you don’t want to do and then be
unhappily looking for opportunities to get back
at the one who “put” you in that position.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). If it doesn’t have
the potential for a little pain, it’s not really a
risk. But no risk means no thrill. Anyway, you’d
much rather do something new and mess it up
than repeat part of the mildly satisfying past.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 3). This
solar return sees you become a master. The
talent that’s necessary to be a master is one
of attraction. The master is more attracted to
the subject than others and is thus willing to
try harder, make more attempts and expe-
rience more failures. The way to mastery is
persistence. Virgo and Aquarius adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 9, 22, 28, 31 and 18.