Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 14, 2018)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, MAY 14, 2018 FEATURES Bad baby-sitting gig Dear Annie: I’m a college — Baby Sitter Blues sophomore. Recently, I baby-sat Dear Baby Sitter Blues: for a friend of a friend who is a few There’s nothing tacky about trying years older and lives in town with to pay the bills. That said, the best her husband and two kids. One was defense for socially awkward sit- an infant, and the other was a tod- uations such as this one is a good dler. It was a relatively offense. The next time she DEAR easy baby-sitting gig; the or anyone else asks you little one mostly just slept, to baby-sit, provide your ANNIE and the older one, though rates (e.g., $10 per child a bit of a handful at times, per hour) upfront, to elim- inate any room for misun- was not too much trouble. derstanding and keep your I watched them for about piggy bank fed. three hours while the par- ents went on a date. At the Dear Annie: I wanted end of the night, the mom to submit this letter of Lane and I chatted for a few Annie forgiveness that I wrote Creators Syndicate Inc. minutes. Then she said, to my dad. Dad, today is “Well, it would be tacky the day you passed away to pay you, so I’ll just take you three years ago. But that was not to lunch sometime.” I felt awk- the first time I felt the pain of your ward and said, “Oh, OK. Sure.” I absence. That has been with me for wasn’t sure what else to say. I got a very long time. When I was 4, my things and left. you walked out and left us. I didn’t It’s not as if she and I were understand why you were leav- friends; this was my first time ing. I only knew you were no lon- meeting her. I’m trying to pay my ger there. You didn’t leave us entirely. way through college with a work- study gig and any other odd jobs I You would come pick us up every can pick up. Every little bit counts, Sunday, spend the day with us and even if it’s just $20. She’s a nice drop us off. Then you would leave woman, and I’m happy to get again. My heart would break when lunch with her sometime, but was I would see you drive away. After a year or so, I asked you I wrong to expect some payment? to come let me live with you. You came down to pick me up and then said you couldn’t take me. I got out of your truck and watched you drive away. Years later, when I was grown up, I would come to visit you, and as I walked to my car to leave, you would apologize to me. To hear you say you were sorry for not being there broke my heart, because I felt it should have been an easy choice. Many years later, as you sat in a rehab facility, I came to visit you. I said my final goodbye. As the nurses pushed you away in the wheelchair, my heart sank. I knew that was going to be the last time I would see you. I learned a lot about forgiveness in my relationship with you. This has been a real gift to me. Going through my relationship with you has helped me be a better father. Dad, I know that one day, you and I will have our special time together. Until then, I love you and I forgive you. — Jay Dear Jay: I have said that put- ting pen to paper is a cheap and effective form of therapy. But this is something even more special: the gift of forgiveness. Thank you for sharing it with us. 5A TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). The younger ones have something to teach you and some- thing to learn from you. Both kinds of lessons will happen over time. The big epiphanies will be a surprise, and they’ll come much later. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Usually the hints are free. If you have to pay for them, it won’t be worth it. The only information worth paying for is comprehensive — a full plan, a whole recipe that includes color pictures. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). What about when you do the things you want to do to be happy and the happiness doesn’t come? Well, it’s good information. Your tastes and needs may have changed, but your commitment to a fulfilled life hasn’t. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The day has many options, each of which will lead some- where slightly different. You’re getting better at predicting these things. You’ll now be strategic in your choices. You’ll see ones that others have missed. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Many people talk too much when they’re nervous. So, in a way, listening is a sign of courage — a signal of being relaxed enough to take hold of the situation internally. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Today plays out like a miniseries. It will have the epic feel of a movie, and yet it will seem to go on and on. So relax and enjoy the details: You really do have time to explore them. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Whatever you do to get to know yourself will help you be happy and successful. And whatever you do to be happy and successful will help you get to know yourself. Either way, you really can’t lose today. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re invent- ing something new, and you’re liking it a lot as you go. The only thing is, if you can stay a bit detached from it you’ll be better off — be- cause yours is not the only creativity that will affect this picture. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). When it’s not going the way you want it to, shake it up. There is always a flip side. This day is like a coin you can toss, catch and turn over on your hand to discover what luck lies on the opposite side. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). What you focus your social energy on will matter. Good conversation will start with the right topics. If you you’re not sure what to talk about, all you have to do is listen. People talk about things that they like to hear about. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). As you are striving to put something shiny in your pocket, it’s a good time to remember that the symbols of success are not success itself, which is always a process, no exceptions. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Today it will feel as though there are different compartments of your life, like individual rooms with their own contents. Some of them are so far down the hall from the others that they may as well be their own worlds. 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 (May 15). You’ll be proud of how much self-sufficiency and independence you’re able to create when you get to work on empowering yourself. You’ll field many declarations of love and other kinds of interest this year. You fit the image of what people want in their work and lives, but be sure to figure out what you want first. Aries and Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 22, 3, 4, 19 and 1.
