THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2018
FEATURES
Quandry for divorced gay dad
Dear Annie: I am a gay divorced doesn’t want to be where he isn’t
father of three. I divorced the wanted. My problem with this deci-
mother of my children after almost sion, which I feel is unreasonable,
30 very difficult years of psycho- is twofold. First, though my future
logical and physical abuse. When son-in-law’s mother is flying in for
we first separated, my eldest daugh- the wedding here in the U.S., they
ter pulled me aside and offered to are having a second ceremony in
testify on my behalf if the
her country at a later date.
DEAR
divorce proceedings war-
I feel they should be sensi-
ranted it.
tive to my needs here and
ANNIE
This daughter is soon to
sensitive to his mother at
marry a wonderful young
the second ceremony over-
seas. Second, the reception
man, whose family hap-
pens to be from a coun-
will be populated with all
try with a more conserva-
of my ex-wife’s friends,
tive society. She claims that
who were my friends but
divorce is almost unheard
have been turned against
Lane
of there, let alone homo- Annie
me. These people have
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
sexuality. She informed me
never once sent a note or
that my fiancé, “Ray,” is not
phoned me to see how I’ve
welcome at her wedding and recep- been doing over the past five years.
tion because her future mother-in- I strongly feel that I need Ray there.
law would “freak out,” as she isn’t He is my rock. I am feeling more
used to such things. Mind you, Ray and more insecure and uncomfort-
and I are quite modest and reserved able as the time approaches. Any
people, and we are not demonstra- advice? — Gay When I Give Her
tive of our love and affection in Away
front of others. Unless she or her
Dear Gay When I Give Her
fiancé has already told her future Away: To me, the most important
mother-in-law, it is reasonable to word in your letter is in your sig-
assume she would not even sus- nature line — the word “her.” This
pect us of being anything other than is 100 percent about your daughter
good buddies.
and her day. You are there to cele-
I am really struggling with this, brate and support her on her very
even though Ray is fine about it and special wedding day. I would sim-
ply ask her again for her thoughts
and feelings about your bring-
ing Ray. Be honest with her about
how you are afraid your old friends
will judge you and you really need
Ray’s support. It sounds as if you
raised wonderful children, so your
daughter will probably be under-
standing. But if not, let her have the
final say.
Dear Annie: You publish quite
a few letters from women com-
plaining about men. Recently, you
published one about men spitting. I
won’t even attempt to defend that.
However, I would like to point
out that many women also have
some bad habits. So let me put it
in the form of a question: Why do
so many women gather in groups
talking to one another and clogging
the aisles of the grocery? Often
when I go to a grocery, I’ll run into
three or four chatting women with
shopping carts blocking an aisle.
When I gently ask them to let me
through, they give me dirty looks.
All women? No. But neither do
all men spit in public. Some men,
some women. Let’s be fair. — Male
Reader for Gender Fairness
Dear Male Reader for Gender
Fairness: I’m printing your letter in
the name of balance and more navi-
gable grocery aisles.
3C
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ll witness
works of whimsy and wonder, “Who has time
for that?” Clearly, somebody who thought
it was important enough. This will be oddly
empowering to you. Your own whimsy is
important, too, after all!
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The thing inside
you that wants to dance will not stand by
much longer. The call of the music will soon
be too irresistible. So the question now is —
partner or no partner?
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Think twice be-
fore you add anything because any addition
at all will change the whole picture. There is
no way around it. More moving parts means
more complexity.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). There are obvi-
ous problems with this path, but that doesn’t
mean you’re on the wrong one. If you can
figure out your path through supposed contra-
dictions, you can help others do the same.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’re working on
something significant, yet your approach is
playful. You’re like a pen making spontaneous
marks on the paper world — doodling for fun
and profit, working out the intricacies of life
with your whimsy.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). People describe
what’s happening in the senses with words
that apply across all five. The word “sharp”
can apply to a note that leans up, a line that
cuts through, a cheese that curls the tongue
... and your mind in general today.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll leave one
situation and enter a better one. After this, it’s
going to be hard for you to think of anything
as lost ever again. What’s lost is never gone,
it’s someplace else.
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). All who wander
are not lost, and all who meander are not
wasting time. The sparks of imagination will
count for something later. This is all adding up
to something more tangible.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). When
you help someone grow, you will learn things
again, the way they learn things. Together
you’ll move through the electric moment that
bridges not knowing to knowing.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If you’re
embarrassed by what you did a few years
back, that’s an excellent sign of your growth.
If you’re embarrassed by what you did a few
weeks back, good! You’re now improving on a
rapid scale.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Enjoy the
benefit of experience. You’re mellowing out.
You’ve learned what’s worth paying excited
attention to and what’s not. You know how to
handle things, so you can relax even while
taking on more.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There are
many things you could add to your practice
in the name of getting good. But to get great
will require you to go the opposite direction.
Eliminate every extraneous element and
isolate only what works.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (MAY 12). You
may admire the lives of others but it’s the
ones who help you see your own life in all its
glory that will be your cherished companions
on this year’s path. You’ll showcase your
talent over the next 10 weeks. There’s an
important trade-off to make in June. Family
events will inspire new ventures. Cancer and
Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7,
20, 12, 43 and 37.