THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018
FEATURES
What about a light touch?
Dear Annie: In this new (and ing it and finding other ways to
long-overdue) era of “#MeToo,” show your engagement and atten-
I’m wondering: Is it always inap- tion, such as asking good ques-
propriate to lightly touch the arm tions, echoing what people have
of an opposite-sex acquaintance said back to them and maintain-
during a casual conversation? I’m ing eye contact. Rest assured, you
not talking about prolonged or seem like such a conscientious per-
son that I’m sure people
repeated touches. I just
DEAR
can sense your compas-
mean a spontaneous and
sion no matter what.
quick touch. I realize that
ANNIE
Dear Annie: I read the
some people may find
letter from “W.C. in Way-
such action sexually egre-
cross, Ga.” and fully agree
gious, but in general, I
that more hotels should
think such touching is an
have
handicapped-ac-
expression to help empha-
cessible showers. I am
size humor, compassion,
limited because of back
sincerity or understand-
Lane
ing. Personally, I think Annie
surgery I had. Hotel bath-
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
rooms are usually retrofit-
I’m pretty good at judging
ted and useless. The toi-
whether it’s appropriate
for me to touch an acquaintance in lets are often older and too low for
such a manner, but my wife insists people with special physical needs.
that it’s never appropriate. Occa- Even if I can use grab bars to get in
sionally, I’m on the receiving end a tub, there is often no means to sit
of such touching, and I don’t find while taking a shower. And stand-
it offensive. Comment, please? — ing while showering is not safe for
anyone rated a fall risk. More than
Confused in the Midwest
Dear Confused: It’s not “sex- once, I’ve had to sit on the edge
ually egregious” to simply touch of a tub while trying to use the
someone lightly on the arm during shower for water, which, of course,
a normal conversation. But there is messy.
are some people who just don’t
My husband and I recently took
like physical contact, and that’s a very expensive cruise — costly
reason enough to err on the side of because of my physical needs. Yet
caution. So I’d recommend avoid- I did have a walk-in shower with
a drop-down seat, lots of grab bars
and a stateroom large enough to
accommodate my electric scooter.
— Love to Travel and Spend a Lot
Doing So
Dear Love to Travel: You and
“W.C.” are certainly not alone.
Read on for another letter on the
subject.
Dear Annie: Absolutely agree
with “W.C. in Waycross, Ga.,” who
wants to be able to travel and bathe
safely. And it is not just elderly
people who have these needs.
There are tons of people with dis-
abilities who travel or would if
they could find accommodations.
All bathrooms should have
safety features, whether in the
home or on the road. The old say-
ing that “an ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure” certainly
holds true.
It would be great if a certain
percentage of bathrooms in hotels
and motels had walk-in showers,
etc. Statistically, there are more
and more seniors with disposable
income, and often they just need
to have the products designed for
them. — Senior Appreciative of
Grab Bars
Dear SAGB: I hear you loud
and clear, and I hope the hospital-
ity industry does, too.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Routines give
us a sense of comfort and purpose. They let
us relax and, at the same time, be stronger
and work harder within the confines of what
we’re doing, knowing that we don’t have to
search for or fear what comes next.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Since the trea-
sure of this day is hidden inside the dirt of
relationships you may have to dig for it a bit.
Do what it takes to connect. Mostly this will
involve letting someone else be the star.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). People are wary
of emotionalism, over-righteousness and
anything with too much “sound and fury.”
That’s why your very subtle and classy pitch
will get serious traction today.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). It doesn’t
seem fair that some days seem to rush and
blur on their way to nowhere. But nothing
lasts like yesterday, on and on and on. Some
yesterdays last longer than others.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Use your creativ-
ity and you’ll get more. You can never run
out, actually. The only way you’ll stop being
creative is if you believe you have no more
ideas, but that belief would be false. Don’t
believe false things.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). When you get
it wrong, it’s not the end of the world; it’s
just another lesson. Take it from your sign
mate Bill Murray: You die in the improv set
five times out of nine. When you get over
your fear of dying, nothing really scares you
anymore.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Figure out the
story and the general direction of your mes-
sage and then deliver it from the heart. This
is how you let people in on who you are and
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
make them come to love and trust you.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). When you get
really close to success, you’re likely to panic.
This is normal. It’s just the brain’s way of
telling you that you’re about to enter a new
level. Breathe, and keep going. The doors
will open before you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You don’t
have to invent anything to solve today’s
problem. Recombine the existing ideas until
you come up with something that feels fresh
to you; then try it out.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your loyalty
will be rewarded. Your optimism will prove
well-placed. And the care you give others
will help them a lot and make you 10 times
happier, too.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You resist
distraction and opt to look inside yourself in-
stead with the question, “What is it I’m trying
to avoid?” This is powerful, and the answer
will come to you because you’re ready for it
now.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Weird new
problems crop up — good. These are the
type that require you to slip into an innova-
tive part of your brain, and you’ll love playing
around in there.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 1). People
will be demonstrative in their love for you,
and you’ll collect symbols and experiences
throughout this solar return as proof. Your
comfort zone will undergo a complete rezon-
ing, too, and by May you might be surprised
by what you’re capable of, all because you
risked, failed, learned and got up again.
Cancer and Gemini adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 40, 3, 19, 11 and 16.