Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/780441
DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman THEDUPLEX GlennMcCoy ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARAMY»My94-year- old father just told me that, decades ago, a family "friend" raped my mother. My mom passed away last year. This "friend" died many ye ars ag o, so there' s nothing I can do to ad- dress the allegation. Neverthe- less, this informa- tion is quite disturbing. I wonder if I can or should disclose this to my sister, my wife or my children. —Burdened DEAR BURDENED » First, you should sit with your father and ask him to tell you everything he wants you to know. Ask him how he feels. Give him lots of time. Tell him you are very sorry he has been carry- ing this burden and let him know that you will carry it, now. You should tell your wife, because you need comforting, and you need to talk about this. You should tell your sister, be- cause she needs to know. Elderly people some- times relive periods of trauma that they have buried for long periods of time. Your father should be given opportunities to talk about this with you, other family members, clergy and/or a therapist. The loss of your mother has no doubt brought on challenges for him. Help him through this. Make sure your father is sleeping and eating well, and keep a close and loving eye on him. DEAR AMY » I am a moth- er of two young children. I baby-sit for my sister's 6-month-old boy while she is at work. Their older daughter goes to school. Recently, my nephew and his sister have been sick with a nasty fever that their pediatrician diagnosed as viral. My sister is a teacher and is reluctant to miss work, so I agreed to baby-sit. Both of my kids, my husband and I caught the illness and were sick for weeks. Now that we are recovered, my niece and nephew are sick again. Should I refuse to baby-sit when my nephew is sick? Is that shirking responsibility? — Torn DEAR TORN » I shared your question with Dr. Di- pesh Navsaria, associate professor of Pediatrics at The University of Wiscon- sin School of Medicine. He responds: "Viral respi- ratory infections are usu- ally spread through direct contact or droplets from a sneeze. Most infection occurs when we touch an infected surface and then touch our own eyes, nose, or mouth. Training your- self to wash your hands with soap/water before leaving or touching your own face will reduce your risk of becoming ill." Pediatricians don't have their children in the exam rooms while they are exposed to illnesses, but your kids are with you when you care for this baby. You should teach them hand-washing, but you can also expect them to be exposed. You don't want to continue to pass this illness back and forth, so — yes — ask your sister for a break in order for everyone to recover. Elderly father discloses a decades-old criminal act You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson. 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 Aquarius(Jan.20-Feb.19) — Emotional energy will help you push your way to the top. Whether you are helping others or expanding your own interests, give it your all in order to reap the rewards. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — Someone will take advantage of you if you are too accom- modating. Think twice before you spend time trying to get everyone to love you. Aries (March 21-April 19) — High energy and an impulsive nature will bring good results if you are disciplined, prepared and organized. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Your association with a group of interesting people willing to explore similar interests will broaden your outlook. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — You'll be ready to take on the world. Get active and exert discipline in order to bring about positive change. An opportunity will come to you through people you have worked with. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Don't ignore friends, family or children who need your help. Be resourceful and offer sugges- tions and solutions, but don't do the work for someone who has made a mistake. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Bring about the changes you've been longing for. Beef up your resume or pick up skills that will qualify you for a position you desire. Present what you have to offer. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — You'll be offered a bad deal. Ask questions and gather the facts before you make a major deci- sion. Emotionally fueled spend- ing will lead to loss and regret. Simple plans are your best bet. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Network, express your feelings and reach out to those who can contribute to your plans. Don't neglect your duties at home, or complaints will be made. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Discussions will be informa- tive, but before you take some- one's word, consider the source and think about if exaggeration has played a role. Rely on your gut to discern what's fact and what's fiction. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Home is where the heart is, and making your abode more efficient will pay off. If you are proactive, you will reach a new level of comfort and convenience. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Avoid excessive people. Stick to what you know and trust, and avoid making a change based on hearsay or conjecture. Trust your gut feelings when dealing with others. Horoscope By Eugenia Last WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1 | YOURDAILYBREAK | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017 2 B