6A
FEATURES
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
Suspicious caregiver
Dear Annie: “Pete” was a nothing. The hospital said he died
friend of mine. He was 20 years of “heart failure,” and considering
older than I and died at the age of his advanced age, that was that.
87. He worked hard his entire life
Pete left me various personal
and retired with his wife, and they items in his will, and when I went
lived in a small but nice house in to his house to retrieve them, I was
Palm Springs. They didn’t spend shocked to discover that George
much money and had just
had moved into his bed-
DEAR
room. George is younger
enough for a comfortable
than I am, but he was sud-
retirement. Their main
ANNIE
denly having an affair
source of wealth was their
with Pete’s widow! I was
house, which was val-
ued at $600,000, and they
too disgusted to comment,
owned it free and clear.
especially by the timing.
I live in Los Angeles, a
They never had chil-
dren, so I told my wife
little more than 100 miles
that I wouldn’t be sur-
from Palm Springs, and
Lane
prised to hear that she
we kept in touch by phone Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
died and George inher-
at least once a week. I
ited the house. Well, that
would visit him in per-
son three or four times a year. The is exactly what happened, within
point is that I did not keep track of six months of Pete’s death.
Pete day to day.
I am writing to you to warn
You can imagine my surprise your readers about what can hap-
when one day I woke up to find pen to the elderly — at least what
three voice messages from him say- happened in this one case. I wish I
ing that I must fire his new care- had done more, though I’m not sure
giver, “George.” I called Pete back what I could do from afar, and I was
but could not reach him. I found out never close to his wife. Elder abuse
later that he had been taken to the is becoming a major problem in our
hospital and had died several hours country, and the consequences can
later, alone in the hospital room be tragic. — Heartbroken for My
with George. I was immediately Elderly Friend
suspicious because Pete had been in
Dear Heartbroken: What a
excellent health, but I could prove terrifying story. Thank you for
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2018
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
sharing it.
Seniors suffering abuse — and
anyone who suspects that an elderly
loved one is suffering abuse — I
implore you to call Adult Protective
Services’ hotline (800-222-8000) or
local law enforcement. For general
information about elder abuse, its
different forms and symptoms, visit
the National Institute on Aging’s
elder abuse page, at https://www.
nia.nih.gov/health/elder-abuse.
Dear Annie: I’d like to respond
to “Twenty-Something,” who is
dreading his or her 30th birthday.
My longtime friend, a psychiatrist,
gave me this advice when I was
turning 30, and it holds for all dif-
ficult milestone birthdays: Learn
to do something you’ve always
thought you might like to do. In
my case, I decided at the ripe old
age of 29 to learn to play the clar-
inet. I got so wrapped up in my
new skills that 30 came and went
almost without notice. It doesn’t
matter what the milestone birth-
day is; it’s not too late to spend
your time learning something new.
— Becky in Sublimity, Ore.
Dear Becky: Beautifully said.
May we all spend more time doing
things that make us forget to look
at our watches (or our phones, as
the case may be).
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Once you thought
you knew what you wanted to be when you
grew up, but not anymore. Anyway, it’s not what
you should be but what you should do that
matters. The action is an expression of you but
not totally who you are.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Being alone and
enjoying it prevents you from using others as an
escape. You’ve been used in that way before,
and you didn’t like the pressure. So you take
pleasure in solitude, just to make sure that you
can.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Can you feel two
things at the same time? Maybe. Or maybe
every emotion is a mix. Let the feeling flow,
because it will be cleansing. Feel it all so you
can close the curtain on this act and move on to
the next one.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Trying to
forget doesn’t work, because the harder you try,
the more the thing occupies your thoughts. The
only way out is through. Remember; process;
and release.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Good food, music
and conversation deserve special notice and
thoughtful consideration. You don’t take any of
that for granted. You want to know what goes
into it. You’ll use your leisure as a means of
mental development.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). As for that task
that seems to be making you so unhappy: May-
be you can’t cut it out completely yet, but there’s
a way to do less of it. There’s also a way to react
differently to it. Take this on. Find the way.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). What you’re looking for
will be found soon — or rather, it will come find
you shortly after you stop looking. So give it a
break and do something else for a little while.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The love, care and
respect you give yourself will show others that
you’re someone to treat with love, care and
respect. You’ll attract only those who are ready
and able to give you what you so deserve.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There are people
who make your life better by being in it, and
people who make your life better by staying out
of it. Don’t force it either way. Trust the social
process, and what happens naturally will be to
your benefit.
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
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Be very
choosy about what you add to your life right
now, be it a possession or a person. Only add
what you love. If you love it, you’ll care for it. And
both possessions and people need a lot of care.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). To get into a
creative mindset will take a conscious effort.
You’ll have to plan it, follow through and protect
yourself from distraction and diversion. The
rewards will be rich. Your heart opens as you
create.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You will be tempt-
ed to give your attention and time to people
who, though well-meaning, are currently limited
in their capacity to be curious about others and
to put others before themselves. Don’t make this
costly mistake.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (July 11).
Increased vitality is your cosmic birthday gift.
By being healthier, you inspire others to lead
healthier lives. Your help matters to family. They
will be a source of pride and promotion for you.
What you accomplish by the end of the year will
put you in the running for an award. Love and
adoration will be lavished on you in 2019. Tau-
rus and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 50, 4, 44, 48 and 13.