Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/656275
DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman THEDUPLEX GlennMcCoy ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARAMY»Iam17years old and a lesbian. I'm trying to figure out how to come out to my family. My family is nonsup- portive of other LGBT members of the family. Sometimes they say awful things about them. It's really hard on me. I have a girlfriend. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me. Prom is coming up, and I'm getting sick of hiding the fact that I'm gay and have a girlfriend, but I'm honestly scared. I don't know what the reaction will be or how I will cope. Sometimes it makes life really hard, es- pecially with my parents going through a divorce. I know that I'm almost an adult, but the secret makes my life hard. I'm different in a lot of ways they wouldn't approve of. I feel sometimes like I should be sorry I am the way I am. Please help me. —LostinCalifornia DEAR LOST » If you have other family members who are gay — and if you trust them to be honest, they are in the best posi- tion to offer you specific advice. It is not always safe for gay teens to come out to their parents. Sometimes parents pun- ish or kick their children out of the house. In the short term, I hope you will plan on attending your prom with your girlfriend, but you might not be able to do so in front of your parents. I'm very sorry to recom- mend that you stay in the closet, but that might be best for you right now. Please remember that you are perfect just the way you are. Teenagers often go through rough patches of worrying and wondering about their identity, and this is espe- cially true for LGBT teens. I have a resource to recommend — Dan Savage's "It Gets Better" project: itgetsbetter.org. It is important for you to know that you are not alone. DEAR AMY » I have a friend who cancels plans frequently. She shows this behav- i o r to ot he r f ri e n d s al so , and they have tolerated it. I sent her a note in her Christmas card that I would not tolerate this behavior because I believe you teach people how to treat you. I suggested that I go with her to a therapist and that it could be anxi- ety or passive-aggressive behavior. She was not agreeable to my suggestion and continues to call. I do not return calls, but I would like your input on how to handle this situation. — Vexed DEAR VEXED » Your choice to handle this by diagnos- ing your friend via a note enclosed in her Christmas card is less than kind. You cannot know what is behind your friend's behavior, but it is possible to remain friends without making plans. You could start by accepting her phone calls. If she is de- pressed, maintaining the connection could help. We not only teach others how to treat us, but we also inspire others through our own behav- ior. You should behave with compassion. Gayteenwantstocomeout and go to prom with girlfriend 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 Aries(March21-April19) — Pursue your goals instead of just dreaming about them. Call in favors and connect with people you have worked with in the past. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Update your resume so it fits current trends and shows off your versatility. Do whatever it takes to improve your relation- ships with peers. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Communicate your ideas and collaborate with people who share your concerns. If something confuses you, ask questions. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Ask for favors and offer incen- tives. Do whatever is necessary to improve your living condi- tions. Love is highlighted. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Protect your status, position and reputation. Taking on addi- tional responsibilities will show off your attributes. Don't let a personal relationship interfere with your professional dreams. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Share your intentions with people who have something to offer. A business trip will help you get what you want. Follow through with your plans regard- less of what others do. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Do your own thing. Avoid pres- sure by making it clear what you will and will not do. Keep your assets and plans a secret until you have worked out a flawless presentation. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — If you offer help, you will get something unusual in return. A partnership will bring you closer to your goals. Change how or where you live. Negotiations will lead to success. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Keep busy and don't let anyone railroad you into taking on responsibilities that don't belong to you. An unusual idea of yours will put you in a good position. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Deal with domestic matters and personal investments. An important relationship will need to be nurtured to avoid discord. Added responsibility will lead to benefits. Expand your interests. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Tend to your obligations and listen to complaints being made. Don't give problems you face with a friend or relative time to fester. Offering a fair solution will make you look good. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — Money, legal and health issues will crop up if you are indulgent or take on too much. Negotiations will turn in your fa- vor if you suggest a counteroffer with incentives or perks. Horoscope By Eugenia Last TUESDAY, MARCH 22 Sisters crush one another by not 'being there' DEARAMY Ihavethree sisters. We have no broth- ers. We are all over 60. In 2013 and 2014, two of my brothers-in- law died and I went to their funer- als, paying for airfare and motels. Last year, my husband died and two of my sis- ters did not come to be by my side. I wrote them each a letter explaining how I felt. I can't get past this hurt. I thought we'd al- ways "be there" for each other. You are always telling family members to mend disputes and to move on. I can't get past the fact that they hurt me. I'm just thankful we live in differ- ent states and don't have to see each other. -- Sad DEAR SAD I'm so sorry this has happened. You did the right thing to contact your sisters to let them know how their behavior affected you. This feeling of disappointment com- pounds your loss and sad- ness. It's a true fact that your siblings have a lot of power; they have known you your whole life -- they are the only people who knew your parents the way you did. They are wit- nesses to your life's story -- they are there for the birthdays and weddings and -- they should be there for the losses too. But sis- ters seem to have a special ability to crush and disap- point one another. You don't say how your sisters have replied to your letter -- or if they have re- plied. It is hard to imagine any excuse or explanation that could possibly be ad- equate. Their behavior reflects very badly on them, just as your behavior during their time of loss reflects very well upon you. You should not have to beg them for connection, and unfor- tunately you may have to find a way to move for- ward and deal with this loss -- on top of your other loss. It has been my expe- rience that these monu- mental losses often bring about a splintering of fam- ily connections, instead of a coming together. I hope you are attending a grief group. Communi- cating with other grieving people, you will learn that sometimes, unfortunately, death brings out the very worst in people. If they don't know what to do, they do nothing, and there is nothing worse than do- ing nothing when some- one else is hurting. DEAR AMY My son is get- ting married to a woman I really don't like. How do I respond to the oft-asked question, "How do you like her?" -- Future Mother-in- law DEAR MOTHER-IN-LAW I think when people ask this, they are really asking for a description. And so you can offer a neutral de- scription of who she is and what she does, how the two met, etc. You can also say (hopefully truthfully), "Max adores her and that's all I care about." Otherwise, if people probe further -- which they often do -- I suggest you lie your head off. Amy Dickinson TUESDAY,MARCH22,2016 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |YOURDAILYBREAK | 3 B ★