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.