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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 2018)
6A FEATURES Leftovers thief in the family Dear Annie: I have had this it for her. Either way, I would be issue with a certain family mem- extremely reluctant to cut her off ber, and I am hoping you can from taking home some of the advise me on what to do. When food — and don’t settle for serv- the family of one of our sons vis- ing only dessert when you and its and eats dinner at our house, his your family would prefer a real wife cleans up afterward, which is meal. appreciated, but the prob- Dear Annie: Up DEAR lem is that she takes 90 until six months ago, my percent of the food for 96-year-old father was ANNIE herself and her grown active. He was driving, children without asking. If helping with farm chores they were having financial and even driving the trac- tor in the fields to assist problems, I would gladly with harvesting. We are give it all to them, but this a long-established Upper is definitely not the case. Midwestern farm fam- One year, she wrapped up Lane ily. We have a wonder- the remains of a 5-pound Annie Creators Syndicate Inc. ful community of loving ham. I am now stop- ping the meals and offer- people. Mom (who passed ing only dessert, which I feel bad away many years ago) and Dad about. I feel worse about her tak- were vibrant. Dad was a leader ing what isn’t hers to take. Help, in many ways and respected in please. I will be watching for your all areas of his career, church and reply. Thank you so much for lis- community. Until recently, he was tening. — Longtime Fan visiting shut-ins and helping oth- Dear Longtime Fan: You ers any way he could. Now he is never know what goes on behind the one who is a shut-in — suf- closed doors. Maybe they are hav- fering from a stroke and unable to ing financial problems. Regard- take care of himself. less, she is feeding your grandchil- I am so angry with those people dren. If it really bothers you that he loves so much who cannot find she takes all the leftovers, perhaps the time to visit or send a card or you could set aside a plate of left- make a phone call. Don’t ask me overs and put a cute name tag on how Dad is doing! Visit him. Take him a cookie or a cup of ice cream. Let him know how much you have appreciated him over the years. Share a good story. Even a short visit means everything. His whole world has changed. He knows he is declining. “Busy” isn’t going to matter when your loved ones are gone. Annie, thank you for your plat- form. I am appreciative of every minute I have with my father and wish that all children could feel that emotion. I was away from the community for most of my life and understand how day-to-day living can diminish family history and heritage. When our parents are gone, it seems that so much tradition is gone. — Daughter in Wisconsin Dear Daughter: Your message will be relevant to many families, so I’m happy to provide a plat- form. But if you’re trying to get through to your family members, this isn’t the most efficient way. You need to communicate to them how lonely and isolated your dad is feeling and what direct actions they can take to help. Sure, ideally, they would have sprung to action on their own accord, but in reality, it might take a wake-up call. Pick up the phone. THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018 TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). To be able to give someone a good referral is a gift in and of itself. So if you can’t help the situation but you know someone who can, linking the two up could be a huge favor. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You were cho- sen because you’re the best person for the job. Someday the position will be handed to a newcomer. Knowing this is the inevitability of all things, you do your best to make the maximum positive impact. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). With careful conservation of personal energy and re- sources you’ll make it to the triumphant end of a long slog. The first step in this victory will be in realizing that you are indeed on a lengthy journey and not a short race. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Try to explain a television drama to someone who’s never watched it. The plot sounds confusing! Yet when you watched from the beginning all events flowed naturally. Today, trust yourself, and don’t explain your choices to others. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The sign that says “You are here” is the most clarifying and orienting and the best kind of start to the journey. So take stock. These signs don’t just come on mall maps. Sometimes they are reflected in the eyes of others. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). To an outsider it may seem that you’ve got quite a lot figured out, and yet you don’t feel that way on the inside. Many things you wanted fell through. Consider that it was for the best. And look at all you have now! LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Much will boil down to this: which problem are you trying 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 to solve? Find one that’s resistant to solu- tion, because it’s an exciting place to start and because you’re up to it. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Keep an open mind, because your first idea isn’t al- ways your best one. And you’ll have lots of stellar ideas if you let yourself play around, experiment and stay curious. Don’t worry, your aha! moment is coming. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). People associate nervous behaviors with dishones- ty, and sometimes this is the case. But the truly dangerous people are the ones who aren’t the least bit nervous about their lies. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). How do you know if you’re coming up against reality or a mistaken belief about it? Does it change when you change? Does it bend to your will? Reality won’t — ever. And any- time you fight with reality, reality will win. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). If you want to spin in circles instead of move forward with life, worry is absolutely the way to do it. Analysis and speculation will also help. To move forward, lighten up and do some experimenting. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Here comes a magical sense of flow. It’s like time stands still and its rules just doesn’t apply to you: You’re totally engaged with life. This is what you were meant for. Get more of it. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 16). It’s said that you can’t lead where you haven’t traveled — patently untrue. Look at all of the exploration missions that have proven otherwise! This year will be such a mission. Leo and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 9, 32, 48 and 8.
