6A FEATURES Inheritance causes rift Dear Annie: When my dad out of a CD. I sent copies of the passed away several years ago, he CD to three of my siblings, and left a certificate of deposit to me. they all know that Mom is wrong, When it matured, I went to the but none of them will confront her bank with my mom because she and help me out. had a CD that matured at the same A couple of months ago, I time. The CD that Dad left me was stopped by my mom’s house and a payable-on-death CD, asked her what the prob- DEAR lem with the family is, with me as the only ben- eficiary, and my dad was and she said it is the CD ANNIE the individual owner of the I took. I again told her to CD. talk to the lawyer. I told About a year later, I got her she is the one who a letter from my mom stat- created this mess and ing, “You need to split up she can start getting the the CD that your dad and I family back together by put in your name.” I called admitting that I did not Lane my mom and said that the Annie swindle her. She said she Creators Syndicate Inc. CD was directly from my would not do that. dad and tried to explain to Just a couple of weeks her that she had nothing to do with ago, my one brother called me a it. I told her to talk to the lawyer thief again. Fortunately, I have a who handled the estate, because wonderful wife who has been very I provided the information to the patient with my dealing with this lawyer about the CD. The estate mess. We just need some guidance paperwork shows that my dad left on how to deal with this. — Inher- me the CD. My mom then accused itance Headache in Illinois Dear Inheritance Headache: me of swindling her and hung up First, rule out any medical reasons on me. A short time later, my siblings for your mother’s behavior, as it’s stopped talking to me, and one possible she’s genuinely experi- called me a thief. I then found out encing confusion and memory that mom had told my four sib- loss. Try uniting with your siblings lings and others that I had taken to encourage Mom to see a doctor her to the bank and swindled her for a complete assessment. THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2017 TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. If that doesn’t turn out any explanations, enlist the help of a family mediator. Visit https:// www.mediate.com to find one in your area. Dear Annie: I have a co-worker who has been on work- ers’ compensation for over a year. She misses one day a week for physical therapy. The rest of the staff members in the office have to cover her position while she is gone. People in management said they can’t do anything about it, and they have not been able to get temporary help for one day a week, as we live in a small town. The kicker is that we feel that she is milking this injury and the rest of us are carrying the load. There is a lot of animosity in the office. What can we do? — Frustrated Dear Frustrated: You can privately reiterate to human resources how this situation is impacting morale. Perhaps those in management will consider what steps they might take to ensure all their employees feel valued, as happy workers are productive workers. But ultimately, you need to stop focusing so much on your co-worker and whether or not her injury is legitimate. The resent- ment is only hurting you. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Usually clouds gather before the storm, so the aware person knows when to duck for cover or get out an umbrella, as the case may be. You’ll use the analogy in the realm of emotion today. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There’s someone who’s been thinking of you. In fact, yours is the first face that pops to mind in the morning and the last one that comes in clear at night. What do you wish for this person? TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You know who gets angriest at the small things? Beings who are even smaller. But the small things can’t help what size they are, and the tiny beings can’t, either. So you’ll respect all and try not to judge things by scale. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Mastering anger will be the advanced skill to work on. Danger and anger are only one letter apart. While it’s healthy to express your feelings, anger should only be let out in a safe context. Anger also defuses with a delay. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It can be daunting to meet people in a broad context, but as the context gets narrower, people feel safer. While it’s easier to relax around friends of friends than with the general public, today it will pay to search wider than that. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re wanted and needed in new places. A group of people you’re not too familiar with will readily accept you as one of their own. It will be a struggle not to over-commit your time. CANCER (June 22-July 22). While a dog’s affection may not be conclusive evidence of a person’s fine character it does feel wonderful to be sloppily, enthusiastically and unconditionally appreciated. Dogs aren’t the only ones who will deliver thusly. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Today features different people, going at different paces, with different tolerance levels and definitions of “high pres- sure.” You’ll be as content as you are patient. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The good fortune will come from getting out and interacting. Tonight you may find yourself communicating differently with someone as you begin to sense this person’s deepening affection. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Tending to your inner self is as essential to your existence as feeding yourself. Right now it’s about paying greater attention to what you need, how you feel and, most importantly, what you have to give others. 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 AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Though it takes intelligence to know another person, it takes wisdom to know yourself. Wisdom often comes from the pain that accompanies mistakes, but not today. Today it comes from listening better and better. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There are questions that those who prefer the bliss of ignorance just shouldn’t ask. And anyway, you’re starting to get information through a kind of osmosis of feeling, so maybe asking is unnecessary. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 29). It’s like you and life are in a conversation. Sometimes it’s deep; sometimes it’s silly and totally off the rails. But it’s a conversation you love either way. You’ll be freed of a burden in the early part of your solar return. You’ll make an impression with your style. The relationships you nurture will reward you richly. Leo and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 3, 33, 38 and 13.