A6
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, FEbRuARY 18, 2019
Son’s choice nags parents
Dear
Annie:
My saw she wasn’t going any-
25-year-old son, “Andy,” where, so I sucked up my
has been dating “Cassie” pride and included her.
for a year and a half.
Cassie is very stubborn.
Andy is the kind of guy She and Andy set a wed-
whom everybody loves, ding date without involv-
ing us. When I
from 2-year-olds to
DEAR
told her the date
100-year-olds. Cas-
ANNIE
sie only has a cou-
would be incon-
venient for us, she
ple of friends and
said that she was
has a terrible repu-
tation. Nobody has
sorry but that it
anything nice to say
was the date they
about her.
wanted.
When
For the first six
I protested, she
months, he hid their ANNIE LANE threatened that I
Creators
relationship from
would never see
Syndicate Inc.
us. When I found
the future grand-
children.
She
out, I was devas-
tated. He told me he liked ended up breaking things
her so much and wanted off with Andy over the
to marry her, but first he fight. He begged for her
wanted to get to know her forgiveness, and they were
better and make sure she back on again. I was skep-
would be worth breaking tical but swallowed my
pride and even bought her
his mother’s heart for.
He wanted me to get to a diamond bracelet.
know her, so I agreed to go
Then Andy dropped out
out with her, and we spoke of the program that Cassie
for several hours. I still really wanted him to be in,
believed she was not the and she broke up with him
right person for Andy. I did again. He begged for her to
not invite her over to the give him another chance,
house for a few months, and eventually she did, but
even though she wanted in the meantime she wrote
to come over. Eventually, I a nasty letter to my sister,
tearing Andy’s character
apart. Cassie tried calling
me several times to apolo-
gize, but I do not want to
hear it. That letter was so
abusive; I cannot forgive
her.
I told Andy that he can
always come to us should
he need anything but that I
will not go to the wedding.
I can’t walk him down the
aisle to an abuser. I know
you’ll say I’d regret not
going, but I don’t think I
would, because how can I
support my son’s marrying
somebody who abuses him
emotionally?
By the way, his friends
have even told him that
she’s not the right one for
him, so it’s not just us as
parents. But he just won’t
listen. — To Go or Not to
Go
Dear TGONTG: I’ll
get to Cassie’s behavior in
a minute, but first I have to
keep you honest. You were
never going to like this
woman, no matter what,
even if she turned out to be
a saint. You prejudged her
and made sweeping gener-
alizations about her.
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). It’s a planning day. As
there’s not a week that goes by without a surprise
challenge, you’d be wise to work that into the plan.
Also, leave room for error and/or irresistible delight.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You won’t be able to
weed out the problems and keep what’s good, be-
cause what’s good is the problems. The end product
will be magnificent not in spite of but because of the
challenging way you had to go about getting it.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Every cycle has a winter
— a period where the environment drives the being
further inside to do the work that must be done in
order to grow after the thaw. This work often looks a
lot like sleeping.
more people.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). What does an evolved
spiritual outlook have to do with phone usage? Tech-
nology isn’t inherently evil or in conflict with spiritual
principles, as long as you’re the master of your digital
usage and not a slave to it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You appreciate
confident people all the while realizing that a social
persona may be but the tip of the iceberg of personali-
ty. Your respect and social savvy will earn you a friend.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your response will be
requested or something like it, maybe your presence,
opinion, vote or support. Anyway, part of you is what
they’ll ask for, and your job is to give the right amount.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). What’s unseen will be
more critical to the action than the action itself. The
invisible things don’t care whether or not anyone be-
lieves in, or trusts, the power of invisible things. Their
cycle is the same either way.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Much will be solved by
recognizing the difference between gratification and
contentment, and by playing the long game. Instead
of going for a quick lift, work to bring up your overall
level of vitality.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). If nothing is inherently good
or bad, then how effective could it possibly be to think
in these terms? Of course, it’s second nature. But if you
can question that nature even slightly, new answers
and easier ways of managing will arise.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You put people first,
before the agenda, before the results are counted,
definitely before the money is divvied up. Because of
your “people first” approach, you’ll take a little longer
to get things done, and you’ll enjoy it more, too.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). What if you knew that
your mentors considered you, in some ways, to be
their teacher? Well, it’s true. So you don’t have to feel
less than or indebted just because you ask for help. It
goes both ways.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 19). Because you’re
able to pay closer attention, noticing and feeling
more, you’ll be astoundingly creative this year. You
may be put on a pedestal for this quality, though the
accolades are not the point. Your heart is full when
you create, and the love that spills over into your life
and world makes it all a little better. Sagittarius and
Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 20, 18, 24
and 19.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Are they picking up what
you’re throwing down? The number of people
tracking with you at this point may be small, but it will
grow. Don’t change the message; just share it with
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