6A
FEATURES
We were going to eat that
Dear Annie: At the recent next time you’re preparing to
Thanksgiving celebration, I was host a family feast, pick up 15
again faced with a situation that containers you don’t mind part-
has bothered me for some time ing with. After everyone’s done
feasting, pass out the boxes and
now.
We take turns in my fam- encourage everyone to load up
ily hosting a holiday. This year, on a little of everything. And
it was my turn to host
if anyone has a friend,
DEAR
Thanksgiving. I truly
neighbor or relative who
love cooking for this
is homebound or hos-
ANNIE
pitalized, tell that guest
feast. Everyone brings a
to pack some extra con-
dish, and I usually do the
tainers and take Thanks-
turkey and dressing. Our
giving to that person.
group consisted of about
Dear Annie: Hur-
15 people this year, as
ray for your reply to
it usually does. The
“James,” who excori-
problem is that every
Lane
ated the teenage chil-
year, without fail, when Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
dren of a hoarder for not
everyone is packing up
doing the housekeep-
to leave, “Rhonda” starts
grabbing leftovers to take home. ing their mother wouldn’t do.
She prepares several plates for You were correct to point out
herself. She does this at every that the children of a hoarder are
gathering, even when she hosts unlikely to have learned how to
the holiday (she will pack food keep house from her. But even
away in her refrigerator while no if they did, they might not be
one is watching). I don’t mind able to do much because she’s so
when people take dishes home, deeply invested in her hoarding
but I find it rude that Rhonda habits.
My mother was a hoarder.
helps herself without asking.
What can I do to discourage this She taught my sister and me how
at future gatherings? — Roasting to keep house, and she was OK
in Kentucky
with our doing the dishes and
Dear Roasting: The best the laundry, vacuuming, mop-
defense is a good offense. The ping floors, scrubbing sinks, etc.
But when we tried to clean up the
biggest problem, her bags and
boxes of stuff (junk mail, worn-
out clothes that she was going to
mend “someday,” old newspa-
pers and magazines, 5-year-old
grocery receipts), she got very
upset and wouldn’t let us touch
anything.
The thing people need to
understand is that hoarding isn’t
a case of a lazy person who won’t
do housework. Hoarders have
an abnormal attachment to their
stuff, even items that most of us
view as trash, and if someone
tries to get rid of any of it, they
behave as if it were an attack on
them personally. My mother was
friendly, funny, kindhearted and
intelligent, but if I tried to throw
out one of her bags of ancient
junk mail, she turned into Raging
Tigress. Hoarding is not a bad
habit that a person can overcome
by exercising discipline and will-
power; it’s a mental illness that
requires professional help and is
notoriously difficult to treat. —
Been There
Dear Been There: This is the
first time I’ve heard from some-
one who grew up with a hoarder
parent, and your personal insight
is invaluable.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). No one has all
the answers. This will come as a relief to you
now, because it means that you don’t have to
offer a turnkey solution for your people. Instead,
introduce them to the issues and invite them to
work together to solve this.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). What’s more
important than being right? Understanding.
This isn’t about knowing more. Knowledge and
understanding are not precisely the same thing.
The former is more akin to facts, the latter to
processes.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ve already sur-
vived your worst days, so even if this one isn’t
unfolding ideally, there’s still enormous potential
here if you keep your attitude buoyant. Positive
people around you will help.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Everything is
moving quickly, and you’ll get plenty of participa-
tion points over the next three days. You’ll win a
few and lose a few — and don’t worry, because
anything you lose will come back around.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). There’s something
you want to accomplish that seems not to be in
the cards. It’s like for every push you make, life
pushes back. Don’t give up. These pushes from
life are just trying to guide you to a better way.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your creativity is
not going away just because you happen not to
be using it much lately. It’s actually swelling up,
eager for an outlet. Schedule time for explora-
tion of this side of you in the near future. You’re
long overdue.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Tenacity, in its less
appealing form, is called stubbornness. You’ll
have this sort of stick-to-it-ness to work with
now. Be careful what you agree to, because it
won’t be so easy to back out.
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). Develop your
plans on paper. This will help you order your
thoughts and take stock of your resources, as
well as the resources you’ll have to acquire to
make your wishes a reality.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Still worried
about what to give the important people in your
life who seem to already have everything?
Actually, what you write in the card will be more
important. Put time and thought into this and
you’ll be a hit.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Changing your
brain chemistry isn’t so mysterious really. There’s
very little you can do that won’t alter it. Ways to
get the good chemistry flowing: hugs, music,
exercise, learning, laughter and so much more.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ll look for
the drama, humor and general human-interest
aspect of life with the zeal of someone who’s
been invited to a very important dinner party.
It just feels better to have a few good stories in
your arsenal.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). We all talk too
much now and then. But one who’s proven to
be a habitual conversation bully will have you
running and hiding in avoidance today. Sad,
really, but a good lesson in the importance of
generous communication.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 7). You’ll get
the attention you deserve with one stipulation:
that you don’t settle for less. Stick with those
who celebrate and support you and you’ll rise
past their high expectations and up to your
own even-higher ones. Get help in setting up
processes that will earn you the extra money
and satisfaction you’ve lacked. Aquarius and
Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 12,
38, 1, 42 and 25.