Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/720000
DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman THEDUPLEX GlennMcCoy ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARAMY»Mymomis nearly 90 and is in great health. She is living with my husband and me — and we all get along well in our small home. My older sister had been taking care of her but called nearly two years ago and pro- claimed that Mom had to move in with us, as she could take NO responsibil- ity for her because she had her own life to live. Big Sis moved across the country to be with a man she met online — one in a long line of "soul mates." She now hates this man, but is scared to leave due to ruined credit, no job and no- where to go. She calls Mom daily with tales of how awful her partner is, but how she can't leave. All of her friends and her counselor have advised her on ways to exit, but she seems to prefer to stay and whine about her life. I under- stand it is scary to start over. These calls are very stressful for Mom; and when she is stressed I am stressed, as stress for her often leads to illness. Should I ask Sis not to call, or if she does call, to just pretend everything is fine? Mom's radar regarding her children is legendary and she would then worry about why Sis is no longer talking about her miser- able life. Is there a middle ground? —TrickleDownStress DEAR TRICKLE DOWN » You cannot ask your sister not to call your mother. Instead, you should do two things: Ask your sister to be aware of the impact her daily narra- tion has on your mother. Tell her, "She worries excessively about you and ruminates on your situa- tion. This is affecting her health. Can you be more mindful of this when you talk to her?" She needn't pretend that her life is perfect, but she could change her tone if she wanted to. Your second focus should be on helping your mother to manage her own stress. Continue to reassure her that your sister has options, and that she is just blowing off steam. Simple medi- tation techniques could help both of you: Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and visualize releasing these stress- ors as little balloons or butterflies that flutter skyward. DEAR AMY » "Perplexed" described a familiar dynamic for people who write to you. Her (adult) daughter was be- ing a pill, but Perplexed didn't know what to say to her! Why are people so afraid of their children? — Unafraid DEAR UNAFRAID » It can be very hard to offer criticism to people you love. And yet, when you really love someone, that is exactly what you have to do. Elderly mother is stressed by her daughter's sad phone calls You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@tribpub.com and follow her on Twitter @askingamy. Amy Dickinson Ask Amy Sudoku Instructions:Theobjectistoplacethe numbers1to9intheemptysquaresso thateachrow,eachcolumnandeach 3x3boxcontainsthenumberonlyonce. AnswertoPreviousPuzzle CelebrityCipher ByLuisCampos Instructions:CelebrityCiphercryptogramsarecreatedfromquotationsbyfamouspeople, pastandpresent.Eachletterinthecipherstandsforanother. NEACrossword Virgo(Aug.23-Sept.22)— Let your emotions, intuition and imagination guide you. A chance to be a part of something you believe in and enjoy will lead to bigger and better offers. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Don't get angry, get moving. It's up to you to move forward without looking back instead of getting left behind. Focus on creativity and imagination. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — What you learn along the way will help you build a brighter future. A healthy sense of give-and-take will lead to an interesting partnership. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Take a look at your finances and consider what you can do to save for a rainy day or special purchase. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Follow your heart and make agreements that feel right. Your intuition will help you choose what's best for you. A unique romantic gesture will improve your personal life. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Find out what others want in order to discover a way to get what you want. Use your intelligence and physical ability to overcome any problems that arise. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — Enjoy the moment. Express your desires and pour your heart and emotion into what matters most to you. Children, commit- ment and plans for the future are all favored. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Emotional discord will unfold at home if you cannot agree about changes you want to make to your surroundings. Put more en- ergy into your career and getting ahead financially. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Traveling, communicating and socializing will be rewarding. You can mix and mingle with people from all walks of life and make a lasting impression. Love is on the rise. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Make affordable home improve- ments in order to relieve stress and add to your comfort. Small but effective projects will also help you avoid criticism and complaints. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Take pride in your actions, and don't be afraid to do things differently. It's your uniqueness that will separate you from the competition. Live life your way. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Take a moment to review what's happened and what you still want to accomplish. Change doesn't happen over- night, and planning will be an important part of reaching your destination. Horoscope By Eugenia Last SATURDAY, AUG. 27 SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |YOURDAILYBREAK | 7 B