THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2017
FEATURES
Family wedding woes
Dear Annie: Your help not invited. Don’t let that fall
is needed to resolve a fam- to you.
That said, if the issue is truly
ily problem. One of my grand-
daughters, “Mackenzie,” called just the expense and you have
to say she is getting married the means financially to help,
in a few weeks. This will be a you could offer that option
small wedding, as she and her to your granddaughter. She
might really appreci-
fiance do not have a
DEAR
ate the help, and your
lot of money. Only 45
son and his wife would
guests are invited. Now
ANNIE
no doubt appreciate
the problem: Macken-
being included in their
zie is not inviting my
niece’s special day.
son and daughter-in-
Dear Annie: I’m
law, as they do not have
64, so in six more
a close relationship and
years, I’ll be in my 70s
she has not seen them
(if all goes well). Writ-
in two years. I was
Lane
ing from that perspec-
upset with the news; he Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
tive, I disagree with
is her uncle. She also
your advice. Telling
said that she will not be
notifying him to tell him he is people our age to “lose (them-
not invited and that if I want, I selves) in helping others” is a
way of suggesting that our own
can call him to inform him.
I understand this is her wed- interests don’t have value or
ding, but this exclusion is really validity.
I’m not saying there’s any-
upsetting me. Now the question
to you, Annie: What does one thing wrong with volunteering;
do in this situation? — Angry in people of any age are free to do
so. But the belief, often stated,
Connecticut
Dear Angry: As you said, that old people should putter
this is your granddaughter’s around doing volunteer work
wedding, so she can invite and focus solely on helping oth-
whomever she’d like. But she’s ers is selling us short. It’s like
also in charge of informing telling someone who’s dissat-
family members that they’re isfied with being a housewife
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
and raising kids who are almost
grown that she just needs to
have more kids or adopt foster
kids or something along those
lines.
A sense of purpose can also
come from doing creative work.
We could paint, draw or sculpt;
write stories, novels, screen-
plays or memoirs; spend time
with friends and family; hike
and build our health; travel and
explore this wonderful world;
or join groups that are working
to “heal the world.”
None of these activities is
focused on giving up on our
own interests. Call me selfish
if you will, but I’d like to go
on living my own life for as
long as I’m around. The notion
that we need to lose ourselves
in helping others suggests our
lives aren’t fun anymore or
aren’t worth living. A strange
attitude, in my estimation. —
Sarah M.
Dear Sarah M.: I’m print-
ing your letter because you
make a great point. There are
plenty more ways for retirees to
spend their time than just vol-
unteering, and self-enrichment
isn’t selfish in the least. Thanks
for writing.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Innovation is
not everyone’s first inclination. A lot of people
would rather try small improvements first. It
will benefit you to stay open-minded about all
possible paths, conventional and unconven-
tional alike.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). When you can
make someone laugh, it makes you feel smart,
even if you’re playing the fool while you’re do-
ing it. It’s good to know you can reach people
in that very nuanced and sophisticated human
place call humor.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ve a good
plan, but life will throw a wrench in it anyway.
Consider that a cosmic gift. Because what
could be duller than a plan that goes off with-
out a hitch?
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You don’t
have to point out everything that’s false — not
to them, not to yourself, either. As your sign
mate Mark Twain said, “Don’t part with your illu-
sions. When they are gone you may still exist,
but you have ceased to live.”
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your usual effer-
vescence may be temporarily muted by a few
borrowed troubles. No worries. All you have to
do is return those troubles like a library book,
and don’t check them out again.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Advertising is
a part of life. You’re selling you. You compose
the “ad” in the way you dress, talk and position
yourself: It’s all part of your pitch. Have fun with
this today. You’re both the creative team and
the product.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Many will vie for your
attention. Some genuinely need you. Even so,
cater to your own needs first. This will put you
in the position to deliver the best you can.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You change
environments just by being in them. Complete
strangers will notice your influence. Your pres-
ence is, in a sense, a responsibility, because
wherever you go, you want it to be better
because you were there.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). With all the chang-
es going on in your part of the sky, you may
be uncharacteristically sensitive. So protect
yourself. Put up a layer of emotional padding,
or, at the very least, emotional sunscreen.
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
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You have
good intentions and no plan. That’s fine for
today. It’s one of those rare times when your
purpose is your plan. You’re here to improve
things, and that’s exactly what you’ll do.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It’s fun to be the
new person in the group, and you’ll make an
impression by being there, even if you never go
back and become part of it. Your presence will
add a certain vigor to the proceedings.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). As ethereal as
you are, you’re still pretty grounded, in the
sense that you cannot imagine believing in
your own superiority to the other people of
the world. Unfortunately, you’ll have to tolerate
those who really do think they’re better.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 24). You
do want something that’s hard to get. Few
have it. The path will be difficult. You’ll have to
recommit over and over. So what? You have
the grit! You can make it if you keep going. Your
polished work will get you noticed. You’ll be
paid well, but you have to ask for it first. People
believe in you and root for you. Cancer and
Aries adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 15, 1,
4, 9 and 13.