6A
FEATURES
I’m sacrificing for my mom
Dear Annie: When my mom’s as a chance to repay her. Perhaps
husband died, we moved her from she’s not offered to chip in for any
another state to an assisted liv- meals because she’s on a limited
ing facility a few miles from our income or living off savings.
Your half sister, though, really
house.
We run errands for her, handle ought to step up more. Perhaps
her bills and occasionally take her you could talk to her and express
how much you would
out for a meal, and we have
DEAR
her over one day every
appreciate her help in
week for a home-cooked
caring for Mom. You
ANNIE
meal. After several years,
shouldn’t feel guilty
she has never offered to
for asking this. She’s
buy us a meal, not even
her mom, too, and she
for a special occasion, such
should want to help her.
as a birthday or anniver-
Lastly, if you’re
simply seeking some
sary. There has been no
acknowledgment that
acknowledgment of our
Lane
what you are doing is
new normal. She does say Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
good and kind, let me
“thank you” for each task.
say: It is. And deep
My mom’s daugh-
ter, a half sibling of mine, lives down, your mom probably appre-
in another state. She has never ciates it more than words can say.
Dear Annie: Thank you for
sent us a gift card for our efforts.
Money is not a barrier for either encouraging the young woman
of them; they are well-off. We feel who wrote about living with her
that we would never treat a fam- alcoholic father to connect with
ily caregiver this way. But are we Alateen (“Sick and Afraid,” July
expecting too much from Mom 15). It’s a powerful program —
and my half sister? It’s really one that has helped many young
the thought, not the money, that people and their families.
Seeing as the young woman
counts. — Underappreciated
Dear Underappreciated: I’m also said she is connected to her
sure Mom treated you to many church, I’d encourage her to talk
meals the first 18 years of your with her pastor, her youth leader or
life. Think of this role reversal some other responsible and caring
adult in the congregation. Alco-
holism and other addictions and
mental illnesses so often result in
the isolation she is experiencing,
and her faith community could
be part of the web of support she
needs.
A responsible faith leader —
who can keep confidences — can
be a good ally, both as a listening
ear and as a resource person if the
situation with her father escalates.
In addition, knowing what’s
going on in a family can help
the pastor, youth leader or other
responsible adult pay better atten-
tion, even without taking any kind
of direct action. Finally, it can
remind the faith leader to lift up
in prayer, without naming specific
individuals or families, everyone
whose life is touched by addiction
or mental illness.
Again, thank you for your care
for the young woman and all who
write to you — and especially for
the good advice you offer them.
— Rev. Talitha Arnold
Dear Rev. Arnold: Thank you
for your thoughtful letter. Because
she mentioned her involvement
with her church, I should have
thought to recommend her faith
leaders as an additional resource.
That was a missed opportunity.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). If “someday”
hasn’t come over the span of a year, it may
not come ever. As you get rid of the things
you’re holding onto for “someday” you’re also
making room for fresh energy and interests.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Learning is faster
than relearning. Children learn fast because
they’ve a clean slate that doesn’t need to be
erased and overwritten. You’ll pick up new sub-
jects quickly but be slow to change the way
you already do something.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). People have dif-
ferent tastes. What you make, do or present is
not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. Success
occurs when you focus on offering what you
believe in and are proud of, not what you think
they’ll want.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Doing it right
once is a good start. Twice creates early
momentum. Three times is the beginning of a
pattern. For an action to be called successful,
though, it must be able to be repeated time
and again with predictable results.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You delight in
entertaining others, if not in the formal sense
then in the impulse you have to keep people
guessing. It’s a relationship skill (maybe even
a public service) that keeps you creative and
engaged.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ve a rather
unreasonable agenda for yourself today, and
that’s no cause for worry or doubt. Unreason-
able things get accomplished all of the time.
Just be compassionate toward yourself as you
push on.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Decisions are hard
enough without the extra pressure of needing
to be right all of the time. Before you enter a
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
situation, remember that it’s OK to be wrong
sometimes. You make better choices from a
lighter mindset.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The very young
soak up the positive, the pretty and the well-in-
tentioned as if these things were gospel. Even
their grievances are taken and absorbed from
other sources. Maturity is a firsthand under-
standing of your likes and dislikes.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The way
you think is beautiful. It’s often accurate,
organized and kind, but not always. Anyway,
beauty has as much to do with quirks as it
does consistencies.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Just about
anyone can hear you when you talk. It’s the
one who hears you when you don’t talk who
deserves a special place in the pantheon of
your personal life.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Hearts are
heavy around you, but they’ll become lighter
once they vent a little. If you have to hear out a
few complaints, consider it a help to society.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Perhaps it
doesn’t look like much, but this is actually a
pretty interesting crossroads you’ve come to.
No pressure or anything, but one decision
could change everything!
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 8). You’ve
earned the promotion; enjoy the rise. Your
need for greater independence will be fulfilled
without struggle as past education gets a
perfect application and old debts are repaid.
The sweetness of loved ones makes October
one of your favorite times. There’s a move in
February — a vitality infusion. Sagittarius and
Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
9, 45, 21, 1 and 18.