THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2018
FEATURES
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
Addiction affects household
Dear Annie: My 52-year- this, and I can tell you’re at
old stepdaughter is on a point of desperation. It’s
drugs and has been for 20 painful, scary and frustrating
years. Her mom has had her to feel as though you’re at the
removed from our home four mercy of a family member’s
or five times, but she is now addiction and mental illness.
back living here. She is caus- But you do not have to be.
ing so much stress to
It’s time to take back
DEAR
the whole family, and
your home and ensure
we do not know where
ANNIE the safety of your
to go for help. She
wife. Your stepdaugh-
ter poses a threat to
refuses to go to any
your wife’s safety,
type of rehab.
She is paranoid —
and this constitutes
barricading herself in
an emergency, so con-
tact the authorities to
her bedroom with a
remove her from the
dresser nailed against
Lane
house (again). For
the door, such that she Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
further guidance, call
has to enter from out-
side the house. She is
the National Alliance
becoming physically abusive on Mental Illness HelpLine
to her mom, who is frail. She (800-950-6264).
was once arrested for phys-
Dear
Annie:
Your
ically abusing an elderly response to “We Deserve
gentleman.
Happiness” was good for
We, as well as her younger some situations but may have
sister and her family, are at missed one serious reason a
our wits’ end as to what to widow’s adult children might
do, where to go and whom object to his new relation-
to contact for help with her. ship with her. “Mom” may
Suggestions, please! We must be suffering from the early
do something before it is too or middle stages of demen-
tia. These symptoms can be
late. — Need Help
Dear Need Help: I’m so very well-hidden from new
sorry you’re going through people in a person’s life, but
adult children would be very
much aware of the progres-
sion of the disease and would
be right to be protective of
their parent’s well-being.
My mom suffered with
vascular dementia for 10
years before recently passing.
She was very good at hid-
ing her symptoms, even with
some family members, and
faking her familiarity with
a person or situation, giving
outward appearances that she
was just fine. In reality, her
disease was progressing, and
she confided to my brother
and me that her brain was just
not working as it used to. We
had to keep a close and pro-
tective eye on her, especially
when new people came into
the picture, because of the
high risk of someone’s taking
advantage of her sweet and
giving nature — and several
did try. — Dawn
Dear Dawn: I am so
sorry for your loss. I would
never discourage children
from protecting their par-
ent in such a situation. Bless
you for looking out for your
mom, just as she once looked
out for you.
3C
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). The finished
product may not be anything even close to
what you were hoping for, but the hoping is
so much fun. Shouldn’t that count for some-
thing?
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). To relax in the
company of new people is not easy for most
people. The awkward moments are realer
and facilitate greater connection than the
graceful ones.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The tourists
are trying to discover all that a place has to
offer in the limited time they are going to be
there. In some ways you’ll feel like a tourist,
traveling to new worlds that just happen to be
close to home.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Offering
a bit of grace is never a bad idea. It’s not
top of mind, of course. The mind tends to be
topped by such things as exerting superiority
and proving its omnipotence. But your better
angels will prevail.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Of course it’s
better to make something important than to
make something perfect. It’s also much eas-
ier. “Important” serves the people it matters
to, whereas “perfect” serves an idea ... and
very likely an idea that only you are having!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The ob-
sessive types will fare well in the current
cosmic climate as they cling to one idea and
won’t let go until everyone around them is on
board. You’ll participate in such enthusiasm
all weekend.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Go where
people need you. This is the luckiest place
for you now. Helping others always helps you;
sometimes it helps you eventually, but today
it will help you immediately.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). If the action
were distilled into a short synopsis, it would
go something like this: You’ll show up, ap-
preciate what others give, give your own and
then leave. Your interests will advance.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Why should things
that matter most be at the mercy of things
that matter least? Turn it around to the extent
that you can. The first step is in recognizing
the problem.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re different
from the others. You give great attention to
the small. You learn from the meek. You have
fun with the strong without joining them in
the pursuits that don’t serve your highest
purpose.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There are those
whose main mission is to seek oppositional
positions. They are teenagers; they are trolls;
they are the antagonists of the story, and
they are only doing their job.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Today there will
be things that call for an emotional response
(relationships, passions) and things that
don’t go well when emotions are involved
(investments of the monetary variety.)
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
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (April 7). The
world responds to your friendly energy. The
next 13 weeks show you working with diverse
talents and adding new skills to your own
arsenal. You’ll be asked to commit in May.
You’ll be building something important in July.
Investments of time and energy pay financial
dividends in August. Love signs are Leo and
Cancer. Your lucky numbers are: 40, 15, 3, 20
and 18.