6A
FEATURES
Life without a partner
Dear Annie: I am 56 years social fill in my time at the Y,
old. When I was 44, my wife and swimming and in coffee shops,
I divorced after 17 years of mar- socializing as the extrovert that I
riage. I think we were lovely par- am. Could that be the new norm?
ents to two amazingly indepen- — Happy Bachelor
dent and strong daughters. They
Dear Happy Bachelor: If
are now 22 and 26.
all your issues with dat-
DEAR
I feel that I was married
ing have been related to
at the perfect age, 28, and
age, why not date some-
ANNIE
one in the same stage of
my wife was 25. We had
life as you? Match.com,
a very good run, and we
did a good job of co-par-
eHarmony and other dat-
enting after we divorced,
ing sites allow you to set
when the girls were teens.
age ranges, and OurTime.
We always tried to take
com is a dating site exclu-
sively for people over 50.
the high road. I always tell
Lane
If dating simply
people to try to be courte- Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
ous to their ex-spouses.
doesn’t appeal to you,
Anyway, the funny
that’s fine. There’s noth-
thing is I have not dated once in ing wrong with enjoying life with-
those 12 years, because I sense out a romantic partner. What mat-
pitfalls and know about age gap ters is that you’re happy and that
problems, and sometimes I do that you have a healthy social life, and
goofy formula that says the appro- it sounds as if both of those things
priate age to date is half yours plus are true for you.
seven years (or older). Women
Dear Annie: Why can’t peo-
that age have actually asked me ple bother to spell my first name
on dates, but I’ve refused. Other correctly? I have a fairly common
women have drama and kids, and name, six letters long, that hap-
I know I don’t want to mess up pens to have about seven differ-
entire families’ dynamics with my ent usual spellings. What gets me
is that even when the proper spell-
desire for finding a mate.
I am wondering whether we ing of my name is right in front of
live in an age when I can get my people, they will still misspell it. It
will be on the envelope, at the bot-
tom of a card or letter, on the front
of my file, in my email address,
in the church directory, etc. That
does not seem matter, because
people proceed to write my name
however they want, using one of
the other possible spellings. When
that happens, I correct the mis-
spelling on the paper. Even people
who have known me for a long
time, such as cousins and friends,
will misspell my name. Further-
more, sometimes folks mispro-
nounce it by saying it as one syl-
lable instead of two. This has been
a lifelong problem. How do I get
through to people? — Joanne
Dear Joanne: I had to laugh
when I got to your signature. I was
expecting something much more
complex. I don’t know why peo-
ple have such trouble with your
name. When it comes to strang-
ers, even if you tried every trick
under the sun (spelling it out, even
wearing a name tag), the fact is
they might still get it wrong, so all
you can do is try changing your
outlook. Friends and cousins, on
the other hand, have absolutely
no excuse for getting your name
wrong, and you should tell them
so.
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, JANUARY 1, 2018
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). People may not
immediately wrap their heads around what
you’re doing if it’s something they’ve never
seen before. Be willing to show them again.
Space it out. Do this gently and over time.
This is the price of being a trailblazer.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It’s not an acting
job: You really are just as enthusiastic over
the success of others as you are of your own.
Maybe it’s because we’re all in this together.
One person’s win is the sign of a rising tide
that will carry all ships.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). While others
seem perfectly satisfied with what’s happen-
ing, you sense that there is something wrong
with the system. You’re correct. Something’s
amiss. Get to the bottom of it.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Small things do
matter, but they don’t make a definitive point.
Details can mislead. A single event will only
tell part of the story. More of the story will be
revealed in a pattern of events. All of the story
is impossible to know.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The worthiest goals
are basically anti-goals today. For instance,
a goal not to do things that are going to
embarrass you later, or not to spend time on
things that won’t matter in the long run, will be
a worthy goal indeed.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Because you
calculate risk differently for yourself than you
do for others, and because you’re protective
by nature, you’ll take certain shortcuts alone
that you wouldn’t lead others along.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You don’t always
have to feel passionate to be effective.
Though you may not feel like working, going
out or spending time with a certain person,
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
you’ll show up anyway, and good results will
come.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your willing-
ness to submit yourself to a certain amount
of social awkwardness in order to make a
connection is admirable. And awkwardness
will ensue! So will the connection.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Because
you see things how they are and you do
things the way they ought to be done, you’ll
be admired and promoted. Hard to say why
these abilities are so rarely demonstrated
these days, but this works in your favor.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The problem
is wrapped around an opportunity, and all you
have to do is tear away at it a bit and you’ll
get to the good stuff. In fact, this little nuisance
could be the start of a huge enterprise.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ll have
double the energy of yesterday, and it will
show in all you do. If you walked a mile, you’ll
now walk two. If you made a friend, you’ll
make two more today.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There are two
sides to the story, and you’ll benefit from hear-
ing them both. Actually, there are many more
than two sides, but if you listen to too many
sides you’ll begin to get tired of this story.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 2). Be-
cause your needs are met so beautifully and
abundantly you’ll be moved to help others.
This only grows the bounty coming your way
this year. A study helps you pick up more
work. Your fan base includes someone who
wants to give you special care: You don’t need
it, but it’s wonderful anyway. Aquarius and
Taurus adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
13, 38, 32 14 and 18.