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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2018)
6A FEATURES TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE How to go about helping a friend? Dear Annie: I have a friend tinues to experience drama when who is going through a tough dealing with his ex-wife. I think time, and I am wondering how I he could benefit from counsel- ing, but I feel uncomfortable can help her. She was a single mother who telling her this because of the raised two daughters and a son financial burden she is already on her own. I am still amazed at feeling. how she provided a safe Aside from being a DEAR and loving home for her shoulder to cry on, is children all by herself. there anything else I ANNIE Her daughters are mar- could do? She is a lovely ried and living in differ- lady, and I want to help, ent states with their fam- but this situation has ilies. Her 40-year-old son made me feel helpless as was also married; how- a friend. — Helpless in ever, he went through a Hot Springs nasty divorce last year Dear Helpless in Lane and moved back to live Annie Hot Springs: Your Creators Syndicate Inc. with my friend. He is mere presence is more currently unemployed. help than you could ever His car was recently rear-ended. know. A shoulder to cry on is an When the police arrived, they invaluable thing to offer a friend. smelled alcohol on his breath Because you two are so and gave him a Breathalyzer close, it wouldn’t be inappropri- test. He was found to be legally ate for you to suggest that her drunk and was arrested. This was son might benefit from therapy. the start of a huge financial and Mental health care is not neces- emotional burden for my friend. sarily the huge financial burden She calls me crying several that many assume it is. Therapy times a week because she is so websites, such as BetterHelp and worried about her situation and Talkspace, offer individual care about her son. As someone look- from licensed therapists starting ing in from the outside, I feel that at about $35 a week, and if her he could be depressed because son has Medicaid, he can look his marriage ended and he con- for covered providers at https:// www.psychologytoday.com/us/ therapists/medicaid. Dear Annie: I’m writing to you about an issue I’ve never seen addressed in this column. As my daughter and new son-in- law opened their wedding cards, they received one from a cousin who attended the wedding. The card was empty, with no gift card or check inside. Do we send a thank-you note for “sharing our special day with us” and the beautiful card? We know it’s a guest’s choice to give a gift, but what if the cousin intended to put a cash gift in the card and then forgot? And is she expecting a thank-you card? It’s a funny situ- ation. How should we handle it? — Left Wondering Dear Left Wondering: She most likely didn’t forget to include the gift, and if she did, she’d remember on her own soon enough. Perhaps she’s just not in a position to give a gift right now and wanted to send a card to at least recognize the special occa- sion. I’d leave it be. A side note: You asked, “Do we send a thank-you note?” I hope you don’t mean that you’re writing the thank-you notes for your daughter and son-in-law. THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2018 By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Preferences don’t automatically make a thing superior or inferior. A better fit doesn’t mean a thing is objectively a better item; it’s just a better item for the person it fits. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Stories have big power, but only if they are believed. If they are told well, they often are believed whether or not they are true. That’s why it’s important to ask, “Who stands to gain from this?” about every story you hear. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There have been times in your life when you were unhap- py but couldn’t pinpoint the source. Today will bring the opposite experience. Where is this happiness coming from? Don’t ask. Just go with it. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The com- pany you keep will not only affect the outcome of your projects today, it will also change you at your core. Happy, supportive people will remind you to smile and accept yourself. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). This is the kind of day when “just do it” applies best. If you’re reasonably sure the action will benefit all (or at least that it will harm none) go ahead. If you waste time explaining or asking permission, you’ll miss your chance. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). A change of venue can make a big difference to your pro- ductivity. Maybe you can’t cut out distractions, but being around a different set of them will work, too. Test this theory. Take your work on the road, or take it home. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Would you rather learn from experience or gain from experience? It’s a trick question. To learn is to gain. And when you apply the learning, you’ll find it’s worth more than gold. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You want to be welcoming and open, but then again, there’s something to be said for making people work for it. Your attention is worth working for, after all, and they will today. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Because you expect more of yourself than most people do, it sometimes feels like you’re failing on a larger scale. But you’re much further along than you would be had you not taken on such a big challenge. Cut yourself some slack. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re not driven by other people’s opinions. It’s your own story that drives you. You want that narrative to be great, and its greatness doesn’t depend on the completion, only on your own ability to rise. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). In theory, you can work on your inner life through meditation, reading, selfless service and education. Would it surprise you if enjoyment, pleasure and self-interest also lead to mental improvement? TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (May 18). Suc- cess is now. It’s not something that’s hanging from the trophies of the future; it’s a satis- faction that comes at the end of today’s mile marker. Remember this and the solar return will bring you abundance beyond your child- hood fantasies. The luckiest months financially will be September and November. Libra and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 30, 4, 41, 7 and 14. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The helium of emotion is so weightless you’re not even aware you’re carrying it around with you. And yet, when you encounter those who need your compassion, you have plenty to give. 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
