THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2018
FEATURES
Feeling out of the loop
Dear Annie: My husband tances and friends. But I’ve always
passed away seven years ago from heard that “two’s company and
complications from Alzheimer’s three’s a crowd.” How can I start
disease. We had very dear friends back doing things without butting
whom we went everywhere with in on my friends who have bonded?
— church, movies, plays, vaca-
I do believe, to an extent, that
tions. The husband of my friend being a widow takes away some
also had Alzheimer’s, and
of a woman’s self-esteem.
DEAR
he passed away a year
I don’t want to get in any-
one’s way. — Seeking
and a half later. The two
ANNIE
Guidance
of us bonded even more
Dear Seeking Guid-
and went to church, out to
ance: I’m so sorry for
eat, etc. My friend devel-
oped health problems, and
your loss.
I began to take her to her
You sound incredibly
appointments.
thoughtful — so much so
She was going through
that I can’t imagine that
Lane
personal problems because Annie
you would ever “butt in”
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
of her financial situations
in any way. Your friends
that developed, as well.
may have gotten used to
She began not wanting to go places your not being around so often, so
because of embarrassment about it could take some time for them to
her finances. It caused me great get back into the habit of remem-
concern, yet it was so complex bering to keep you in the loop.
there was really nothing I could You just need to be willing to ini-
do. At times, I was concerned that tiate contact more often than you
she did not have adequate nutrition. normally would. The more you’re
She passed away a few months ago. around the more they’ll remember
I didn’t realize I was investing to invite you to future outings.
so much of my time in trying to see
And another option to get the
her and care for her that I am out ball rolling in your social life is to
of the loop, so to speak. I’m trying host a get-together with friends and
to make a concentrated effort to get friendly acquaintances. The group
out and do things with friends. I am setting takes the pressure off and
fortunate to have many acquain- allows everyone to socialize more
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
casually. It might be true that two’s
company and three’s a crowd —
but four’s a party.
Dear Annie: I just had to
respond to “Weight Watcher,” the
woman who wrote in about her
husband’s gaining 15 pounds in 15
months. I think you missed some-
thing there. What you told her was
good — but he sounds clinically
depressed. If he would just visit his
family physician, he could get diag-
nosed and receive the proper meds.
My husband went through the same
thing. He didn’t know he was clin-
ically depressed. (There’s a differ-
ence between “feeling depressed”
and “clinical depression.”) Once he
was put on the proper medication, it
made all the difference in the world
— weightwise, moodwise, every-
thing! It’s also a fact that as we
age, it’s easier to become clinically
depressed. — Been There
Dear Been There: You raise a
great point about clinical depres-
sion and the fact that its signs are not
always obvious. I encourage read-
ers wondering about the symptoms
of depression to visit the National
Institute of Mental Health’s web-
site (https://www.nimh.nih.gov) or,
better yet, talk to a doctor.
I’m so glad your husband’s
doing better.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Today it will be
better to end one thing and start another than
to spin in circles in territory you know all too
well. Growth means reaching a new height.
You can’t grow without becoming familiar with
another altitude.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Other people’s
wealth and attractiveness can be an irritant.
Usually you are unfazed by this, but you
wouldn’t be human if you didn’t find it occasion-
ally bothersome. Don’t think of them as your
competition. That will help.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The biggest ob-
stacle present today will be pride. To be seen in
a certain way may seem much more important
than it really is. Don’t forget that connection
happens in vulnerability, not in strength.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Connect
with animals. Animals are experts at being in
the moment and are almost never thinking
about their income taxes instead of being
present in the here and now.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). In theory, your
feeling good doesn’t have to do with the behav-
iors of others. However, life is not now, nor will
it ever be, a theory. You’re continually surprised
by how you are connected to and separate
from others.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Is this a
pointless game you’re playing? The fact that
there is no prize or punishment involved will
allow for the playful mindset you need in order
to gain some skills. Later you’ll use these skills
to do something of consequence.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll be in touch
with your wildness, perhaps not fully on board
with it, but that’s the nature of wildness. The
logical part of you cannot tame it, only admire
it.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). There is quite
a lot of busywork to handle, and it really does
matter. Without the proper procedures and
paperwork, things aren’t going to go smoothly.
This is worth your time, but don’t let it take up
your whole day.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). If there’s a way to
make things more splendid, more extraordi-
nary, you’ll find it because you’re looking for it.
The competition is part of this, but it quickly
becomes something you do for your own
satisfaction.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Our moon may not
be responsible for life here, but its influence on
the tide and weather certainly plays a part in
our development. Similarly, someone orbiting
you will have a profound yet indirect influence.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You are energy. En-
ergy moves in waves; waves move in patterns;
patterns create rhythm. So you are energy and
rhythm, with the ability to think about that and
change it according to your artistic whim.
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
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). This is a day of
self-discovery. You’ll learn about yourself by
tuning in to different parts of your life and rela-
tionships, such as what you’re looking forward
to and what you’re dreading.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (April 25). An
exciting and productive four weeks will kick off
this solar return. Relationships will become
the star focus in June: some turning softer and
more pleasant; others becoming very efficient
business arrangements. The discipline you
create in one aspect of your life will transfer to
other areas. Aquarius and Sagittarius adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 10, 7 30, 22 and
19.