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SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2012 PAGE 7C
Mother’s irrational animosity is driving a wedge between the families Dear Abby: My mother has never liked her sister-inlaw. Mom thinks “Auntie Beth” is “completely out to get her,” even though no one has seen any evidence to support mother’s claims. For the past several months, Mom has been complaining nonstop about how “awful” Beth is. She says things at the most random times to people she barely knows. If we don’t show sympathy toward Mom, she then becomes enraged. It has caused many problems between our family and Auntie Beth’s. We can’t have holidays together because my aunt is not allowed in our house. No one wants to be involved in the drama.
DEAR ABBY ADVICE How can I help my mother understand the harm she is causing and get our family back together? — Sick of the Drama Dear Sick Of The Drama: Your mother’s behavior appears to have escalated from disliking Aunt Beth to paranoid. If it is time for her annual physical, her doctor should be told about it because her behavior is not normal and she may need a neurological exam or counseling. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do about this, because if you try,
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she may think that you are “against” her, too. But the rest of the family can refuse to allow her to exclude Aunt Beth by not accepting invitations in which she is not included. Dear Abby: I have started a relationship and am falling in love. I have known “Willa” for a few years, but we never really hung out before this. We see eye-to-eye on lots of things. However, the other night she told me she’d had a past relationship with her best guy friend, “Mike,” whom she refers to as a “big brother.” Mike is someone I hang out with. Their fling was eight years ago. Willa also hinted there may be other mutual friends she has had relations with before me. I don’t care who she’s been with, but I feel I should know which
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ones we socialize with. And I’d rather hear it from her than find out from a friend. Willa says it isn’t her place to spread other people’s business. What do you think? — Wants Answers Dear Wants Answers: Unless Willa intended to make a full disclosure, she shouldn’t have teased you by making you curious. Obviously, you do care about whom she has been with, so now you need to be honest with yourself about why. Would you prefer not to socialize with the men with whom she has had past relationships? Because she has clammed up, perhaps you should assume that she has been with all of the men she has introduced you to. The question you need to ask yourself is whether you
can put her past aside and focus instead on building a future with her. Dear Abby: I am curious to learn what your readers do when they receive a gift card for a place where they don’t shop or eat. Some are located far from where I live, and some don’t carry anything I need or want. — Grateful, But ... in Columbus, Ohio Dear Grateful, But: I am sure most of my readers would do what I would do and that is re-gift it to someone who would appreciate it and use it. To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays, send a business-sized, selfaddressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby’s “Keepers,” P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)
HOROSCOPE BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
GOREN BRIDGE WITH OMAR SHARIF & TANNAH HIRSCH PREVIOUS DAY’S SOLUTION
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re a sponge for knowledge now, and you’ll learn from those who have what you want. The best teacher, however, is experience. Dive in and go for the experience. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). When you have a plan, you’ll feel productive. You might get even more accomplished by just winging it; however, you won’t get the same winning feeling as you do when you follow a plan. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You won’t do things in the expected order, but you’ll get them done nonetheless. A loved one might find this puzzling or even maddening. But why should you do things like everyone else? CANCER (June 22-July 22). Most people think it’s important to be right, but they’re wrong about that. You’ll be amazed at what happens when you give up the need to be right. Your mind will quiet. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your standards of style come into play. You may like someone very much, but you won’t take the relationship to the next level until you’re satisfied that your styles will mesh well. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your skills get rusty if you don’t use them. You’re in just the mood to freshen up your bag of tricks. Practice that thing you used to be able to do to prevent losing the skill altogether. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Writing to-do items down on paper seems so “old school” in today’s high-tech world. However, it’s the method that’s going to make this day a great success.
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SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll spend a fair amount of time looking at the big picture. To an outsider, you appear to be a person staring into space. They can’t see the magnificent wheels turning in your mind. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You are still being too hard on yourself, expecting maximum productivity without allowing time to laugh, kick back and recuperate. Don’t skip these crucial steps. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You have that special charisma that makes people give you their full attention. You will have a receptive audience, so take your sweet time telling a story. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Once you fully bond with someone, it’s next to impossible to separate you from that person. Temporary separations end in you being drawn back together. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You feel a strong empathy with someone. Your empathy is an expression of love that widens your perception and further opens your heart. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (April 28). Operating in groups will be a specialty, and you’ll be an integral part of a winning team this year. You’ll visualize yourself succeeding and then create the same dynamic in your reality. A shift in perspective helps you find a way to make more money in June. November brings exciting visits with those you’ve missed. Pisces and Sagittarius people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 25, 49, 27 and 16.