6A
FEATURES
Focused on mom’s finances
Dear Annie: Our family is like con. He’s stolen from people out-
most families — dysfunctional. side the family, too. I cannot seem
Our father worked two jobs most to accept this decision. I have for-
of his life to better himself for the given the crook, but I cannot forget.
I am keeping my distance from
good of his family. My mother was
a spender, but my father controlled the situation and asking all other
the money. When my father passed, family members to assist with our
mother’s care. My family
my mother was finally free
DEAR
has no idea of the stress
to live as she wanted.
this situation has put on
Yet my eldest sibling,
ANNIE
me. I have lost some of
“Dan,” suddenly controlled
my hair; I constantly break
all her money. Never
out in rashes; and I hardly
was there a family meet-
ever sleep at night because
ing to discuss finances.
I worry about our mother’s
Recently, we learned that
finances.
Dan has taken liberty
I am wondering
with our mother’s money.
Lane
whether
I am wrong to
Almost everything my Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
start thinking of myself
father worked for is gone.
and to stop worrying about
Our mother needs assis-
tance, and now she cannot afford our mother’s future. I know there
it. I feel that Dan cheated not only are ways to get assistance for our
my mother but also the rest of our mom, but without her pressing
family, because now we have this charges against the person respon-
added burden of her care. Dan has sible, it might be difficult. I would
never shown remorse. Our mother like all of us to find peace with this
could press charges for elder abuse situation so there will be a legacy
but has chosen not to go that route. of love and kindness left by our
The burden has mostly fallen mother. Can I just go on and pray
upon me to care for our mother. I that my other siblings will see that I
really enjoy our time together. But I need to separate myself from all of
am struggling now because the rest it? — Heartbroken
Dear Heartbroken: You might
of the family wants to find peace
and has let Dan back into the fold. want to consult an attorney about
He is a bad person who is a real your situation, just to be sure you’ve
exhausted every avenue regard-
ing your mom’s finances and your
brother’s mishandling of them.
That said, the person I’m wor-
ried most about is you. It is not
wrong at all for you to start think-
ing of yourself. In fact, it’s imper-
ative that you do. The rashes, hair
loss and lack of sleep are symp-
toms of severe stress. Consider see-
ing a therapist, as it could greatly
improve your quality of life. If not
therapy, at least take other steps
to improve your mental health —
whether that means planning a
vacation, taking a fitness class or
simply spending more time alone.
Self-care is not self-indulgence.
Dear Annie: I would like to
make a public service announce-
ment for all office workers. Please,
for the love of all that is good, wear
shoes! I don’t care how hot it is or
that you chose to purchase uncom-
fortable shoes; keep your feet cov-
ered at work! Also, flip-flops are
not appropriate footwear for an
office. Please choose one or more
of the thousands of other summer
footwear options out there. — P.U.
Dear P.U.: I’m printing your
letter because summer is still going
strong in a lot of the country. Unless
you’re a yogi, keep your shoes on
at work.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). It’s said that
words should be weighed, not counted. The
tone of your messages today will be clearly
felt and with the precise intensity level that
you meant.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Can love really
make impossible things happen? Extraordi-
nary things, for sure. Love is your super fuel
today. You apply yourself differently when
you’re powered with love’s high octane.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Science tells us
a lot these days. Just keep in mind that sci-
ence thought it was telling us a lot 200 years
ago, too, and we didn’t even know about
germs then. Stick with what works for you,
whether or not it’s scientifically sound.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ve experi-
enced injustice in your life so you know, when
you see it happening to others, the gamut
of emotions that are involved, especially the
fear. This is why you help to right the wrongs.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). When you admire
the way a person thinks, you want to be near
the person to share your appreciation and to
understand better, maybe even adopt, that
manner of thinking.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Reasoning is
option one; force is option two. Force can be
effective, but it also produces an equal and
opposite reaction. It will be better to walk
away and do what it takes to recharge pow-
ers of reason before deciding on option two.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Those close to
you really don’t care how many of your per-
sonal goals you reach. They love you beyond
such things. You will be loved dearly whether
or not you accomplish anything. But this isn’t
about them; it’s about you.
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). Even the best
conversations will eventually peter out if you
don’t introduce new topics. Relationships are
the same. New focus keeps them from going
stale. Today’s introduction will keep things
fresh.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Problems
cause moods and moods cause problems.
Regardless of the origin, foul vibes will be
fixed. Exercise solves problems unrelated
to health and so does inspirational reading,
power posing and positive thinking.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your super
talent today is that you’re thought provoking.
People will ask for your evaluation and you’re
likely to give a strong and truthful answer,
different from the ones already on the table.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You don’t
have to share a person’s belief system to
understand, respect and apply it to helping
the situation. Sometimes the mere act of
accepting another person causes that person
to bend a little in your direction.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). In the interest
of tracking your learning process, identify
milestones and celebrate those milestones.
Keep this trend up and you’ll soon be a
masterful expert.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 21). You
care deeply about others and now self-
care — not selfishness! — will be the focus.
Self-discovery allows you to give the best you
to the world. Faulty learning of the past will
be overwritten in October. Freer than ever,
you’ll begin a new hobby. Your earnings mul-
tiply in 2018, a reflection of your confidence.
Gemini and Pisces adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 40, 27, 31, 26 and 5.