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DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman THEDUPLEX GlennMcCoy ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARREADERS»I've stepped away from my column for a week while I put the finishing touches on my new book, which will be published in the fall. Please enjoy these "Best Of" columns in my absence. I'll be back with your fresh questions and answers next week. DEAR AMY » About 18 months ago, my mother handed me an envelope marked: "Open Upon My Death." While it seemed con- sistent with her penchant f or h i g h dr am a, I d i d n ' t think much of it and put it away in a drawer. I recently came across the envelope, and it has been gnawing at me. I have not had the best relationship with my mother, but I maintain that I have been a good son. She has been hard on me, at times cruel. That is not just my perception. It is pretty much agreed upon by my family. I tried to talk with my parents, but they prefer to let sleeping dogs lie. The funeral arrange- ments for both my parents have been worked out. They had me sit with them at a funeral home a few years back. They even have written their obituaries. I doubt the letter has anything to do with arrangements. I now have the feeling that the letter might be her final drop-kick to me after she's gone. It would be especially hurtful, because I would have to deal with it for the rest of my life. I have been debat- ing opening the letter, visiting a therapist to get an opinion, or asking my mother about the contents. I doubt that the last choice would do much good. They are in their 80s, and this might be too much to confront them with. I have promised myself th at I ca n ho ld m y he ad high whatever it says, although that might be difficult. I am inclined to open the letter in front of her, but I run the risk of isolation. What should I do? —Torn(Over)Letter DEAR TORN » You have the right to your own peace of mind. Your parents could have chosen to leave the letter in their home, with their lawyer or in a safe- deposit box; their choice to leave this with y ou as a ticking time bomb is like something out of a Dickens novel. Find a therapist. My instinct is that you should either go ahead and read the letter, or bring it to your parents and ask them directly about its contents. But you should do so only if you are convinced that you can handle the consequences without much help from them. Obviously, this letter could contain some fairly benign issues. If, however, it does disclose some sort of bombshell, you will then have to decide whether to confront your parents about its contents. This would be much easier to navigate with the support of a counselor. — February 2007 Son wants to peek into his mom's mysterious envelope 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 Taurus(April20-May20) — Solutions will be found if you discuss your concerns openly. Persuasive tactics will help you get your way. You will be offered the chance to travel. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Go over details carefully before moving forward with a project that someone is shoving on you. Your talent and skill will be in demand. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Your emotions will surface eas- ily. Don't make impulsive moves. If you plan your actions, you will stay on top and win the favors required to excel. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Don't let anyone drag you into a no-win situation. Keep your distance and focus on making personal changes. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Show some confidence and lay out your plans. You will impress the people you encounter if you get involved in educational pursuits or functions related to your work. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Look for a way to bring about change without upsetting too many people. You'll be ripe for pursuits that require travel, dis- cipline and learning. Do what's best for you. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — The level of your accomplish- ment will depend on how willing you are to follow your dreams. Don't be afraid to do things dif- ferently. It's your unique ideas that will take you furthest. Sagittarius (Nov. 23- Dec. 21) — You won't get a unanimous vote of approval, no matter what you do. Be wary of the person too eager to help or offering something that sounds too good to be true. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — You've got everything you need at your fingertips, so don't hesitate to make your move. Take the initiative to bring about domestic and financial changes. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You'll face opposition if you are too vocal regarding your plans. Bring about change qui- etly and do your due diligence when it comes to money mat- ters and professional gains. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — You'll gain support if you rely on people you've worked with in the past. If you stick to infor- mation that has been tested or proven to work, you'll avoid criticism. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Emotional issues pertaining to your home and family will esca- late if you bring about changes without getting approval first. A money matter is best handled delicately. Horoscope By Eugenia Last TUESDAY, MAY 10 TUESDAY,MAY10,2016 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |YOURDAILYBREAK | 3 B