A6
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, JANuARY 30, 2019
Unusual wedding gift request
Dear Annie: I just received asked friends and family to
an invitation to a wedding that contribute toward travel, some-
I’ve been told will be lavish. thing they’re both passionate
The woman is in her 50s, and about. That seems blameless
the man is in his 60s, and they enough to me.
As for their having
have been together
DEAR
already been to this des-
for over a decade, so
ANNIE
tination and their being
they have requested
financially secure, lav-
no gifts other than
ish weddings have a way
monetary contribu-
tions to their hon-
of setting people back a
eymoon. They have
bit. I’m sure they would
traveled extensively,
appreciate the help
including to the hon-
swinging a vacation at
eymoon
destina- ANNIE LANE the moment, even if they
Creators
tion. Is their request
don’t necessarily need it.
Syndicate Inc.
tacky, or am I just
Dear Annie: I was
living in the past?
a preschool teacher for
— Wondering
25 years. With all the terri-
Dear Wondering: Though ble behaviors in the world, I’d
asking for cash gifts toward like people to know that babies
a honeymoon fund was once as young as 9 months can be
considered tacky, it’s becom- taught to imitate sounds and
ing more and more common, actions, so let’s have them imi-
especially among young peo- tate politeness. Tell children to
ple. Market research firm Har- say please. Do it every chance
ris Interactive found in 2018 you get and pretty soon they
that 72 percent of millenni- will echo it. It may come out
als prefer spending money on as only “peas” because kids’
experiences to material things. tongues and mouths aren’t
Though your friends aren’t ready to say blends (two con-
millennials, they are at a point sonants together) until a few
in life when they most likely years later. Tell them to say
have all the household things thank you, too — for instance,
they need. So instead, they’ve whenever they get a cookie.
Again, it may sound like
“ank-oo,” but they know the
meaning. Same with “excuse
me.” If you bump them acci-
dentally, say, “Excuse me.”
They will imitate you.
Children can learn these
courtesies before age 2 and
use them for a lifetime. I was
a teacher of those who learned
these words at home and those
who didn’t. Guess who started
all the fights! — Make the
World a Better Place
Dear Make the World a
Better Place: It’s never too
early to start modeling good
behavior for children. Thank
you for this letter.
Dear Annie: This is in
regard to the letter from “Stu-
pid Senior,” who broke up with
a cheater and soon after found
out that she has HPV. You
missed an important teach-
ing moment in your response.
Before becoming intimate,
both parties should be checked
for STDs and use condoms
until they have agreed to be
monogamous. — K.F.
Dear K.F.: You’re right that
I missed a teaching moment
there. I appreciate your step-
ping up with the lesson.
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). While “I’ll know it
when I see it” is a fine enough guiding principle
for a solo artist, groups need a more specific set
of rules to go by. A good leader will think it over
and spell it out.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Does it please you to
know that someone is working hard to impress
you? It’s flattering, to say the least, although you
must also realize that this has a lot to do with
what the individual is projecting onto you.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). When it doesn’t
work, an explanation for what went wrong is a
nice thing to have. Also, it’s a luxury. You don’t
get it every time, nor would you want to come up
with it every time. To shrug and walk on ... that’s
grace, too.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). There are people
you know who have to, in order to survive and
act normal, do things you would consider rather
strange. Your ability to accept this will be the key
to this day going smoothly.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). A very strong bond is
built one fiber at a time. And if you want to get
microscopic about it it, this happens on a cellular
level. Small things, repeated ... this is the theme.
This is the glue that will bond you to your goal.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Working people of-
ten have less leisure time than others. Since time
is the most precious commodity we have, it does
make one think about the work worth doing, and
the work not worth doing.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). When things go
wrong, it may be circumstances that cause it, but
as a responsible person you’re always trying to
assess which circumstances you can control and
which you can’t.
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
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your attention is
worth something. You can’t afford to give it away
willy-nilly. And you won’t. You won’t click on
nonsense or sit through what doesn’t interest
you. You won’t look into drama. You’ll keep your
nose clean.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ll be
dealing with new people whose sensibilities may
surprise you. Like a masseuse working on a new
client, the best way to learn what pressure to use
is to ask.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Are you thinking
big enough? It will be impossible to detect from
where you are. It will take an outsider to assess
the situation. Who can you bounce your ideas
off of?
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). A mystery is a
thrill. And if the mystery seems like it might actu-
ally be safe, all the more exciting — to be thrilled
and not killed, that’s the entertainment sweet
spot on which books, movies and roller-coaster
rides are predicated.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You relate to some-
one who is solving things and that’s because you
are also a part of the solution. Get right in there
and give your ideas. You are feeling this way for a
reason. Don’t wait for permission; just go.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 31). You’ll invest
yourself before others realize this is a successful
channel. You’re not expecting quick results. You
take pleasure in the the slow, steady building
of something you believe in. More highlights: a
sacrifice allows for astounding beauty, you’ll live
as others do (an eye-opener), and you’ll pursue
exceptional love. Capricorn and Taurus adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 40, 2, 22 and 18.