THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2018
FEATURES
Wedding invitation snub
Dear Annie: My youngest they talk to regularly.
daughter, “Marta,” is beautiful
Brian and Marta were already
and caring but intellectually chal- saving up money for both of them
lenged. I have always encouraged to go. Additionally, Marta is not
all my kids to do what makes them capable of getting there herself
happy, and she is no different. A because of her aforementioned dis-
couple of years ago, she met a won- ability. I said all this to Elle, but
derful man through mutual
she still said Brian can’t
DEAR
friends, “Brian.” After dat-
come. I said, “Then maybe
ing for almost a year, they
we won’t come, either,
ANNIE
married last fall. We could
because it’s not fair that
not ask for anyone more
you’re treating your sister
caring and giving. Brian
this way.” Now Elle is not
makes Marta his first prior-
talking to me or Marta and
ity as a spouse, partner and
blocked my number and
friend in his life.
my messages online.
The reason I’m writ-
Am I wrong here? I
Lane
ing: My second-youngest Annie
do
understand that they
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
daughter, “Elle,” who is
haven’t wanted the wed-
ding from the beginning.
27, is getting married this
fall and wants to invite Marta but But now that they’re having one, I
think it would be wrong to exclude
not Brian.
Elle and her fiancée would her brother-in-law. Family is fam-
have preferred to skip this whole ily, whether you talk every day or
ordeal altogether and just get mar- not. — Wedding Woes
ried at the courthouse. But they
Dear Wedding Woes: You’re
are doing the wedding his parents not wrong, but you can’t force
want (spending money that is sup- them to do what’s right. Though it
posed to be saved for a down pay- does strike me as odd to exclude a
ment on a house, but I digress). Elle brother-in-law, this isn’t my wed-
has been really stressed out about it ding — and it’s not yours, either.
If Elle and her fiancée don’t want
from the outset.
They said that they are only to invite Brian, that’s their mistake
inviting people they talk to regu- to make.
larly and that Brian isn’t someone
Were I to squint hard to try to
see a halfway decent rationale for
their actions, I suppose I might
focus on the fact that they didn’t
want a ceremony or reception to
begin with. They may not see this
as a big deal or understand how
hurtful such a snub can be. As for
how they expect Marta to get there
when she needs Brian’s assistance
while traveling — well, I have no
idea what they’re thinking. You
and Marta might contact airlines to
see what assistance is available for
travelers with disabilities, if she’d
still like to go. But it would be per-
fectly OK for her to stay home,
too. That would be the bride and
groom’s fault and, most of all, their
loss.
Dear Annie: In this day and
age, when one has to be constantly
aware of scams, I find it terribly
annoying to receive phone calls
from people who do not identify
themselves when they call. Often
when my wife and I get phone calls
from fundraising groups or even
from doctors’ offices and the like,
they ask for my wife or me imme-
diately. What’s the deal? — Who’s
Calling
Dear Who’s Calling: I’d say
the decline of phone etiquette cor-
responded with the rise of cell-
phones and, specifically, texting.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Wanting to do
the thing or not wanting to do the thing is
beside the point. You do the thing because
you said you would, because it’s good for
you, because it’s right. This is the way of
exemplary character.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It’s said that
the best things in life are free, exempli gratia:
love, clouds, podcasts ... and so much more
today. Bonus: Someone will buy your way —
not free, exactly, but close enough.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Head foggy?
Does it take you longer to come to a con-
clusion? Do you forget why you walked into
the room? It’s because part of your mind is
working on something mind-blowing and the
other part of your mind is blown.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). There are
tasks to be completed, and there is pleasure
to be had. And there’s no reason that both of
those things can’t be combined in the same
activity.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You can be cuddly,
and you can try to snuggle in with your flock,
but don’t be surprised if they can’t complete-
ly let down their guards. See, you’re not a
sheep. You’re a lion.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Time to face the
“yuck” of yesterdays. Have no fear. There are
many ways to let go of the past that don’t
include lying on your back in a therapist’s of-
fice while repeatedly answering the question,
“How did that make you feel?”
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll either burst
through emotional blocks or wear them
down by pushing ever-forward. You really
can overwrite past baggage by creating new
successes.
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
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Motivating
people is your thing today. You’ll be free with
your enthusiasm, encouragement and ideas.
Bonus: You’ll be well-compensated for this,
though perhaps not in a financial sense.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). We are
living in a realm of opposites — a dimen-
sion of polarization and contrast. One sign
of emotional maturity is when people stop
pointing out the contradictions of life and
start accepting them as the norm.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Watch your
step. Perceptiveness on your part will help
you to discover the golden opportunities
hidden in a social situation — while avoiding
the quicksand that’s also hidden there.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). If you’re not
making a mess, you’re not living big enough.
Though you usually clean it up solo, it’s not
always possible to get it back in order all by
yourself. Ask for help.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You tell your-
self that you don’t really need closure — that
life is a circle and therefore there is no end,
and by extension, nothing to be closed. Tell
yourself. But if you still feel incomplete, what
exactly are the words you long to hear?
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (March 7). This
year it’s ambition, faith, effort ... then throw
it in reverse. Everything is doable when you
apply yourself consistently and sometimes
relentlessly. Love is the luckiest thing that
touches your life in the next three months.
Keep showing how you feel. Connections
and lifestyle improvements are part of the
summer fun. Libra and Cancer adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 6, 30, 16, 28 and
45.