THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2017
FEATURES
The other grandmother
Dear Annie: I know this is over, he never talks unless we
short notice, seeing as my ques- talk first, and even then he only
tion is about Christmas, but I’m has one- or two-word answers.
hoping that you can publish an Jill has always let him sit in on
answer. I’m quite sure there are adult conversations, something
others in my shoes.
I totally disagree with. If she
I have a 9-year-old grand- starts talking about how this or
son, “Bradley.” He has
that is going wrong in
DEAR
been in and out of our
her life, he jumps in
lives, mainly because of
and makes sure to give
ANNIE
the fact that his mother,
his input, but it’s adult
“Jill,” and my son,
stuff he doesn’t need to
“Andrew,” are not mar-
know about. We real-
ize he forms his opin-
ried and my son is not to
ions based on what his
have custody of Bradley
mother says.
at all. Jill and Bradley
Jill generally only
have mainly lived with
Annie Lane
brings
him around
Jill’s parents.
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
We have never been
during holidays, when
as grandparents and
gifts are in order. We
grandson should be, but my hus- can tell he really doesn’t want to
band, my daughters and I have be here but his mother is forcing
tried. I knew this, but his mother him to come to get a present. My
finally admitted that one of the dilemma: Do I continue buy-
reasons she never left him at my ing gifts for him in the amount
house while she ran errands or that I do for my other grandchil-
let him spend the night was that dren, the ones I see often? Am I
her dad didn’t want him around supposed to overlook what Jill
us. She said her dad (Bradley’s is doing and pretend that he is
grandpa) was always worried doing nothing wrong? I don’t
that we’d let Andrew come over want to be the grandma who is
and kidnap him — which we trying to gift a grandson into
coming more, because that has
would never do.
Anyway, for about a year no effect on him anyway. —
now, when Bradley does come Christmas in Kentucky
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Dear Christmas in Ken-
tucky: This little boy is only 9,
and based on your letter, he’s
probably getting a lot of mixed
signals from the adults in his life
about how to behave and whom
he can trust. It’s no wonder he’s
a little reserved.
You’re under no obligation to
buy him gifts of a certain value,
but I would continue to show
him the same love and attention
you show your other grandchil-
dren. If his home life is chaotic,
your reliable support could mean
more than you know.
Dear Annie: We just want
to thank you for the answer to
the letter from the victim of a
scam. The column appeared in
our paper yesterday. It came
at a time when we were help-
ing our son decide whether he
should get involved in a simi-
lar-sounding job offer he found
on the internet. We contacted the
Federal Trade Commission and
received confirmation that it was
indeed a scam! We will be for-
ever grateful. — Don and Glo-
ria in Connecticut
Dear Don and Gloria: How
serendipitous. Thank you for
sharing that. You’ve made my
day.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). It’s all temporary
— the mood, the circumstance, the things you
want out of this ... and yet, it matters. You’ll
feel as though you’re defining yourself with the
action you take.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll be looking
for ways to do more and need less and you’ll
find them. There’s magic in this pursuit. It will
also be quite addicting, especially in the case
of doing things for others.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ve often had
the impression that the game is rigged. Today
that suspicion comes sneaking around again,
although this time it seems to be rigged in your
favor ... so is that going to be a problem?
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Whether it’s emo-
tional or actual baggage, you’ll be less effective
trying to dead lift it on your own. You can handle
much more weight with a little strategy. Can it
be leveraged? Can it be rolled?
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). An ordeal can be
an adventure and an adventure can be an
ordeal, and today they’ll be one and the same,
depending on how you look at this. It’s easier
to approach it brightly when there’s someone
to impress.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Trial and error is
the only way to learn this complex thing you’ve
taken on. Sure, the theoretical knowledge
will help, but it can only take you so far. You’ll
advance through your mistakes. Mastery will be
eventual and inevitable.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’re great at
slipping into the mindset that will serve the
moment best. This is a talent in and of itself —
a sign of emotional genius really — and you’ll
be able to trade on it for some nice dividends
today.
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’s not important
that they know everything you mean. In fact,
it’s better that they don’t. As people fill in the
blanks with their own story, they connect with
you. Mysteries are opportunities. Voids are
invitations.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). What stands
alone? Nothing and no one. Life here is about
groups. Organisms, tribes, cultures ... from
bacteria to trees to animals and people, it’s all
working together. As much as you’d like that not
to be true today, it still is.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There’s not
one bad thing on your to-do list today. You could
potentially take pleasure in every single activity.
The thing is, there are so many of them, and
most of them rather pressing. You can do this!
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your day-to-day
is slowly morphing into a different pattern. Your
style is changing, too. But your values will stay
the same. Like a developing child, you will fulfill
the potential of what you always were.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Kindness and
self-respect are at the center of your decision
to step up and own your actions when they’re
great and when they’re not. We’re all just learn-
ing and in need of both encouragement and
correction.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 19). In the
next 10 weeks, luck, attitude and ability inter-
sect in the perfect convergence to bring you
money. Your excitement over an idea will be the
defining factor — your idea of another person,
or of the future, or of humanity in general.
What/whom you take care of will reward you
enormously in the spring. Aquarius and Leo
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 15, 5, 22,
28 and 31.