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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 9, 2018)
6A FEATURES TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE Is she a half-sister? Dear Annie: My granddaugh- her to ask the child’s mother. So ter, “Melanie,” thinks that she has a she should go ahead and ask — if half-sister 24 years younger. she wants to know. But right now Melanie believes that her father, it seems that she’s not totally sure long divorced from her mother, she does. Perhaps deep down she’s was asked by his former unattached uncomfortable with the idea of her girlfriend with whom he remained father having another child. I’d friendly, to “help” her have explore that with her to help DEAR a child before it becomes her sort out her feelings so biologically too late. she can come to peace with ANNIE Now, my granddaugh- this issue either way. ter has become very Dear Annie: I wanted to attached to the 2½-year- add one more point to the old and visits her at least cigarette butt conversation once a week. She finds that I feel you and the reader a lot of physical resem- should have mentioned, as it blance to herself when she is incredibly important: Peo- Lane ple who throw out their butts was that age. She sees her Annie Creators Syndicate Inc. along roadways can and do father participate lovingly cause wildfires, some of them in the little girl’s activi- ties. She has asked him “the ques- causing death and destruction across tion” but he refuses to answer tell- vast areas. With this being wildfire ing Melanie to address the question season, we need to be more aware to the child’s mother whom she of how our habits impact the earth sees every time she goes to visit the and those around us. — Concerned young child. However, she cannot in the Northwest bring herself to asking the mother if Dear Concerned in the North- west: You are absolutely correct. this girl is her half-sister. What should she do? — Wonder- According to the National Fire Pro- tection Association, there were an ing Grammy Dear Wondering Grammy: estimated 90,000 smoking-material Melanie has nothing to lose and a fires in the United States in 2011, sister to gain. She’s already spend- the most recent year for which this ing a lot of mental energy on the data is available. Those fires caused subject, and her dad actually told an estimated 540 civilian deaths and THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2018 By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. three times as many injuries. Dis- carding cigarettes properly can liter- ally be a life-or-death issue. Thanks for bringing attention to this aspect of the problem. Dear Annie: Like “Childless With No Regrets,” my husband and I also decided not to have children. After 33 years, we don’t ever regret being childless, either. To this day, when I see a baby, I smile and com- ment how beautiful he/she is to the proud parents, and am truly happy for them, but have no desire to hold the little “bundle of joy.” However, if I see a puppy, I go gaga, turn to mush, and snuggle the little pup in my arms and talk “baby talk” to it. I remember when I was a rebel- lious teen, my mother would tell me, “I hope when you have kids, they turn out to be just like you!” That was enough for me to swear off having children! — Dog Mom in Missouri Dear Dog Mom: Bundles of joy come in all shapes and sizes. Mil- lions of pups need “parents,” so it’s wonderful that you were able to take one into your home. Thanks for sharing your experience with not having children; I’m printing your letter for people who are facing peer pressure to have children when they’d rather not. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Today will call back to an era in which conversation was a status symbol, and those who could manage one artfully were elevated, while those who couldn’t were demoted. The judgment will be on a subconscious plane. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Where you invest love, you invest hours, attention and money. This is why anyone who knows you knows whom and what you adore without your having to say a word. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re in a mood to do something spontaneous for the one you love. People may not like being caught off guard today, though. Sometimes what makes a surprise most pleasant is that it’s not really. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Technically, every day is a chance to begin anew. And yet, for better or worse, we are so entrenched in our own identity, relationships and environments that “new” sometimes takes a herculean effort. You’re part Hercules today. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The situation will pique your existential curiosity and challenge your beliefs. Don’t worry: Even the most devoted religious follower or confident atheist is likely to experience moments of spiritual perplexity. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll add new friends in the weeks to come. Ideally, they will possess qualities to fit your style, such as an above-average sense of humor and at least one heartbreak in their past. You resonate with the experienced. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Love comes with problems and risks — always. That’s the nature of it. You’ll gladly take those on for the one you love and the joys of your heart will 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 make the downside seem negligible. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There’s a log- ical option on the table, but don’t decide strict- ly based on what looks good on paper. You don’t live on paper; you live in the emotional oxygen of your feelings and senses, and, as guides, they won’t let you down. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You would never jump ship at the first sign of rough seas. However, you also shouldn’t, on purpose, sail directly into a storm. The time to think this through is before you embark at all. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Two paths meet, and suddenly you’re in a face-off with someone going the opposite direction. Nei- ther of you is right. Neither of you is wrong. But for the blockage to clear, someone has to yield the right of way. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). As is typically the case in human development, being a person of character matters more to you the older you get. You’ll forgive someone young for being flighty while still acknowledging the behavior as less than ideal. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It is possible to assess and manage a situation without being judgmental about it in a personal way. This type of compartmentalization will make you efficient today. TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 10). Though you don’t seek fame, you’ll love what you do and become well-known for it this so- lar return. Longevity in love and other things that matter to you will be a cosmic boon of 2019 — largely because you are magnetized toward making healthy, sustainable choices. Cancer and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 2, 7, 11, 49 and 40.