THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017
FEATURES
Don’t come to his funeral
Dear Annie: This is a prob- invited guests know to keep the
lem I know my family will address to themselves because
have pretty soon. My mother it’s a private event. If the ser-
married my stepfather, “Skip,” vice is being held on private
after my father died 19 years property, you can explain the
ago. My stepfather had eight situation to the owners and ask
children before they got mar- for their assistance in keeping
out unwanted guests,
ried, so I have eight
DEAR
who would technically
stepsiblings. My mom
be trespassing.
passed away a few
ANNIE
All that said, the
years ago.
onus is on the three
Three of Skip’s sons
brothers to respect
won’t speak to him or
their father’s final
visit because he gave
wishes. Should they
his daughter power
manage to attend
of attorney and they
the funeral, keep the
were very upset by
Lane
focus off them and on
that. Anyway, the prob- Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
remembering and cele-
lem now is that Skip
brating the life of your
doesn’t want his sons at
his funeral at all. Besides these stepfather.
Dear Annie: I just read
three sons, he has another son
and four daughters. And he has your column with the letter
told all five of them to make from “Sad and Over It, With
sure the other three aren’t there. Empty Pockets.” It was about
My question is: What can be a deadbeat son’s not paying his
done to get them to stay away parents back for a student loan.
at the funeral without causing I almost fell off my chair. That
a problem and without getting is almost the same situation I
the law involved? Please help am in.
About nine years ago, I
me to tell them how to fix this.
co-signed a student loan for
— Very Unhappy
Dear Very Unhappy: You my granddaughter. She prom-
can try keeping the location of ised to pay it back. She said
the service a secret and let all she really wanted to attend this
3C
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
expensive school. After about
seven months, she quit. She has
not made a payment in almost
two years. The balance owed is
a little over $10,000.
I get collection calls daily.
I explain that I am on Social
Security and have low income.
They don’t care. I sent my
granddaughter a letter stating
that she has to do something.
She told me she isn’t working
and has two kids to take care
of. I tell her to call the agency
and arrange to make interest
payments. She refuses.
I thought about calling an
attorney but was worried that
her mother (my daughter)
would be upset with me. Well,
after reading your reply to “Sad
and Over It, With Empty Pock-
ets,” I will be calling an attor-
ney this week. Thank you,
Annie. You have been a great
help to me. — Empty Pockets,
Too
Dear Empty Pockets, Too:
I’m proud of you for stand-
ing up for yourself. I hope the
attorney’s letter straightens
your granddaughter out and
you’re made whole. Remember
that assertiveness is not cru-
elty; it’s merely self-respect.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ll think
logically and ask, “What am I trying to accom-
plish here?” but don’t get too intellectual on it.
Sometimes you just have to feel it and make
your move.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re not lazy
about work, and neither will you be lazy in
matters of love or friendship. You’ll go even
when you feel like stopping in order to please or
help another.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Instead of of
worrying about how your needs will get met,
you focus your attention on serving the people
you care about. Service has a way of turning up
your personal power — and your mood.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). As you think of
the one that got away, know that and this per-
son’s unique and appealing qualities are myth-
ically and enormously exaggerated through the
lens of memory. Also know that someone thinks
of you in this way.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Ideally you would
devote yourself to an important cause, although
that does get a little complicated, and you may
have trouble finding your “in.” There’s actually
more potential in that silly little cause that’s
grabbing at your attention.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Not everything
requires a thought process to move forward.
When a thing is ready to take off, it will. Growth
isn’t always a plan. It’s often just what happens
in a conducive environment.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You can tell when a
person is listening to you but not understanding
you, or looking at you but not listening to you.
You won’t take it personally. Rather, you’ll use it
as a chance to experiment to find more effec-
tive communication.
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). It seems like
good ideas are being snatched up all around
you. Actually, they were snatched up long ago,
and now they’re just getting reworked. There’s
more where that came from. Seek antiquated
inspiration.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). If you focus
on what’s wrong, people will tune out. Also,
if you dance around the subject, your mes-
sage won’t land. So be as clear and direct as
possible about what you want. Don’t forget the
sugarcoating, though!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There’s a
message in joy and a message in pain. Both
will point you in the direction of more happiness
and enjoyment today, so be quick to pick up on
the hints.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your focus will
be more inward this weekend and that’s an ad-
mirable direction that will serve you much better
than distractions that keep you from examining
your own mind. Building a rich inner life will
lead to a rich exterior life.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). This is a day for
skipping steps because you need to get quickly
to the heart of the matter. For instance, you may
assume a warm familiarity with someone you
hardly know in order to become fast friends.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 14) You’ve
kept an attitude of gratitude through seemingly
unfavorable circumstances, and something
tremendously fortunate came of it. Surprisingly,
it will be more of a challenge to keep a grasteful
heart through the wonderful good that happens
this year, such as the windfall next month and
January’s award. Try, though! Scorpio and
Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
3, 40, 33, 12 and 19.