THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2017
FEATURES
Assistance or manipulation?
Dear Annie: I have a family situation: She was grieving and
dilemma. My mother is 95 years my sister took advantage. My sis-
old and still living in her own home. ter explained her actions as an effort
My wife and I see her five or more to help my mother write checks
times a week and help her with and balance her checking account,
household chores and getting to although my mother writes her own
doctors appointments. My brother checks and balances her checking
account without assistance.
and sister also help but to
DEAR
My mother’s will states
a lesser extent. My father
that she wants her estate
passed away last February,
ANNIE
to go equally to her three
and my mother misses him,
children after she gives her
as you might expect.
nine grandchildren $1,000
The problem is that
a piece.
since Dad passed away, my
I don’t really want to
younger sister has involved
think ill of my sister, and I
herself quite heavily in my
keep looking for the silver
mother’s financial mat-
Lane
lining in this matter. Maybe
ters. She got her name put Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
you can make some sug-
on my mother’s checking
gestions as to what I should
and savings accounts. She
also got her name put on my moth- do, if anything. — Concerned for
er’s investments as a trader. These Mom
Dear Concerned for Mom:
investment accounts each contain
Start with Mom. The next time
thousands of dollars.
My mother also has a will that you’re one-on-one with her, ask her
names me, the oldest, as executor of open-ended questions to see how
that will. Right now it appears that she feels about her finances. Then I
I am executor of not much, as my would talk to your brother to see if
younger sister has positioned her- he shares any concerns about your
self as the recipient of these var- sister’s management of her funds. If
ious accounts. This positioning she is siphoning money from your
took place within a few days of my mothers’ accounts as you say she
is, consider consulting an attorney
father’s passing.
My wife and I believe my about your options. It’s good you’re
mother was manipulated into this looking for the best in your sister,
but it’s also wise to plan for the
worst and do what you can to pro-
tect your mom from it.
Dear Annie: I have a 6-year-old
son. We recently acquired 14 chicks
to help take care of the tick popula-
tion in our yard, and my son loves
them. But our old coop is rundown
and too small for all of these soon-
to-be hens!
I’m a longtime reader of advice
columns, and I seem to remember
that years ago, a young man wrote
in and asked for readers to send him
a penny to help pay for college. I
was wondering if my son, Tobin,
could experience the far-reaching
kindness of strangers to help with
this problem. He loves getting the
mail every day. Could folks perhaps
take a moment and send a penny
to a boy and his special pets? —
Cooped in Connecticut
Dear Cooped in Connecticut:
That young man was ahead of his
time: He was crowdsourcing before
online platforms such as Kick-
starter, GoFundMe and Indiegogo
existed. I’d highly recommend
starting a fundraiser through one
of those websites. You can get your
son involved in the process in many
creative ways. He could create art-
work about the chickens, or write a
few sentences about his hopes.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). With great
charisma comes great responsibility. Be
careful how you wield that today. You want
friends and fans, but you don’t want people
to expect attention from you that you’re not
willing to give.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Fraternizing
with the enemy is obviously a breach in
ethics, a disloyal move, a dangerous risk —
unless, in doing so, you make the enemy an
ally. And just maybe the enemy was never
really an enemy at all.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re highly
motivated, but don’t make yourself too busy:
It will only be counterproductive. You need to
be able to assimilate what you’re experienc-
ing. Dive in where it’s deep enough, within
limits — the pool, not the ocean.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Perfec-
tion doesn’t win hearts. Sure, people re-
spect the hard work it takes to be masterful.
However, it’s that intangible something that
counts much more.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When you don’t
happen to stumble on happiness, fear not.
You can still create it like you’re using a
favorite recipe: Put in the right ingredients in
the right order and you will be happy.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It would
be so much easier if life would fall into sim-
ple categories, but it never does completely.
Anyway, you have too many varied interests
for narrow-mindedness. Your principles are
strong, but your mind is open.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Though your
manners are impeccable, a challenging sit-
uation puts them to the test. You’ll use your
quick reflexes to save someone (or yourself)
from imminent embarrassment.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You were
right to put off a task until you felt compelled
to take it on. But enough is enough. There’s
a fine line between inaction and procrasti-
nation. Get in there and get it over with.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Getting into love
is easy: You just fall. For love to continue,
though, efforts must be made. You have to
be willing to keep taking risks. Falling hap-
pens, mostly, in uncertain territory.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The difference
between a loan and a gift is that one should
be repaid literally, while the other should be
repaid in a more creative way. Of the two,
the loan will be the easier one to manage.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It has been said
that there is no love, only acts of love. This
is the perfect moment to show someone
you love that you’ve been listening. Do the
exact thing that is most needed or wanted.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 30).
Once upon a time you gazed longingly into
the wide and distant possibilities. This solar
return you’ll connect with them. A vibrant
relationship will give you wings. There’s a
financial investment in November — risky
and worth it. You’re most decisive and per-
suasive at the close of the year. A healing
happens in June. Libra and Virgo adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 40, 33, 38
and 12.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll be an
equalizing force in the lives of others — a
safe place for someone to confide in, a
neutral party in the war, the fair hand that
deals the spoils. Everyone is counting on
your justice... no pressure!
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