THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2017
FEATURES
I’ve gotta take that call
Dear Annie: I have an old and before you’ve told your friend
close friend I’ve known for 50 how you feel. You should at least
years. We live far apart, and the let him know these abrupt good-
byes bother you and give him the
only way to talk is by telephone.
Over the past several years, chance to say his piece. This is a
my friend has started to suddenly hunch, but is it possible you’ve
interrupt our calls when there is a not taken verbal cues — such as
click on the line signal-
“Well, it’s getting late” or
DEAR
ing another call. He will
“I should let you go” —
announce midsentence that
that he’d like to end the
ANNIE
he has another call coming
call? He may be using
in that he has to take and
call waiting as a quick
then abruptly hang up. He
way out. After all, with
interrupts himself this way
50 years’ worth of stories,
as often as he does me. It
I’m sure you two could
happens virtually every
talk for hours.
time we talk, no matter
Dear Annie: I have
Annie Lane
what time it is.
read
in your column
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
I thought a solution to
numerous letters from
this might be to ask him
families who, for various
to call me when it is convenient reasons, do not have any caring
for him. That has not stopped this grandparents or other close rela-
rudeness; he does this even when tives in their children’s lives (for
example, the recent letter from
he has placed the call.
I am at my wits’ end and cannot “Protective Husband”). My hus-
think of a solution short of writing band and I had the same problem.
Rather than see our children
off the friendship. This behavior
is very much outside his normal miss out on the benefits of hav-
character, which makes it all the ing grandparents, we carefully
observed older friends and neigh-
more frustrating.
Any ideas on tactfully deal- bors and adopted “chosen” grand-
ing with this problem? — I Wasn’t parents for our children. When-
ever we moved, the process began
Finished
Dear I Wasn’t Finished: again, to the benefit of both fam-
Don’t write off the friendship ilies. There were always many
jobs that each family could do
for the other. And the “grandpar-
ents” never felt that life was pass-
ing them by or that there was no
one for them to call on when they
needed help with minor repairs,
yardwork, heavy lifting or tech-
nical problems that can perplex
older minds.
Our chosen grandmother was
a widow whose biological grand-
children lived in other states. I was
finishing my bachelor’s degree
at the time, and she was truly a
wonderful blessing to our family.
She would ask what I was fixing
for supper and then offer to cook
it and eat with us and watch my
youngest do his homework, all
while I finished my assignments.
She was a real saint who enabled
me to have the time to study and
graduate with honors. Then I
became an award-winning school-
teacher for 39 years, which I might
not have been able to do without
her help decades before.
Please look around and choose
carefully. And remember that all
family members do not have to be
biological relatives. — Blessed by
My “Chosen” Family Members
Dear Blessed: It sounds as if
she loved having your children in
her life, too. What a wonderful idea.
3C
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Just because you
can read the signs doesn’t mean you will follow
them. They seem geared toward guiding you
down the conventional route. But that’s not the
only way. You’ll be in the mood to explore and
find your own way.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The struggle is
between you and you today. If you’re too strict
with yourself, you’ll rebel and do nothing. So be
gentle. Praise and encourage yourself. You’re
doing so much that’s right.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The people
around you may heartily agree, but it’s time to
take your idea wider, keeping in mind that there
are those in the world at large who believe
much, much differently from the way you do.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Clear the air in
these last days of the year so you can go into
2018 without baggage. Argue and persuade if
you must, but ultimately it’s negotiation and a
fair compromise that will serve you best.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Regarding a rocky
relationship: There’s so much that’s possible
here, so don’t give up unless you’re truly
unwilling to do things differently. Change can
still happen.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’re disarming,
and you’ll be in the perfect company to exer-
cise your charms. There are those who really
need to drop their defenses! They’ll be much
better for knowing you today.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Today, if you were
a bird, you’d be a peacock. You have some
colorful stuff to strut! And since birds of a feath-
er flock together, you may be a part of a truly
impressive show and tell.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll have to call
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
up some powers of diplomacy to deal deftly
with the group today. These guys aren’t going
to get along unless there’s someone in the
middle to buffer the conversation. That person
is you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Look on the
bright side — not directly into the sun though,
or you’ll damage your eyesight. The bright side
isn’t the extreme positive. It’s a light filtered
through the clouds, trees, buildings and people
that exist in the real world.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You have
something on your mind, but it’s not like your
mind is “consumed” by this. Yours is a strong
intention. This is better for you now, as it leaves
room to work with what others want. Oblivious
ambition is dangerous.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Some say you
should master your thoughts to master your
actions, but this isn’t always the order that
works. Your thoughts can be feral and powerful
as wild horses, but do things differently and
your thoughts will calm down.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Circumstances
don’t define you. Circumstances are opportuni-
ties. What defines you is always your reaction
to these opportunities. Really good things can
come out of less than ideal situations.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 23). Three
weeks of luck will change your mind. Your
needs are met but this only satisfies you if
the ones around you are doing well too. You’ll
dedicate yourself to bringing up the whole
group. This quest makes your life great — even
magical. January brings an exciting discovery.
Loved ones surprise and delight you. Virgo and
Aries adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 40,
33, 37, 1 and 26.