THURDSAY, JUNE 18, 2015 | WEST HAWAII TODAY
3C
Dear Annie:
Recently,
I insisted a dear friend
move into my home so
I could help him after
he was diagnosed with
a brain tumor. After a
lengthy surgery, doctors
managed to remove it.
Two weeks later, I took
him to a rustic cabin
retreat so he could rest.
The morning we were
to leave for home, I woke
up and went to open the
front door, but it was
blocked. Apparently,
my friend had gone out
earlier, tripped and hit
his head, and had died
in front of the door.
Since then, I haven’t
been able to eat or sleep.
I don’t know where to
turn and am about to
have a breakdown. I
can’t afford therapy. Do
you have any advice?
— Devastated in Ohio
Dear Ohio:
We are so
sorry for your heartbreak-
ing loss. You thought
your friend would be OK
and weren’t prepared for
his sudden death. Please
know that you are not at
all responsible for what
happened. It may even
be that the treatment
of his tumor affected
his balance or visual
focus, contributing to
his tripping and falling.
Counseling will help
you come to terms with
this, and it doesn’t need
to be costly. Check at
the hospital where your
friend was treated and
ask whether they offer
grief counseling. You
also can discuss this
with your clergyperson.
Dear Annie:
It is
summertime again, so I
thought I would put in
my two cents on what I
want friends and rela-
tives to be aware of when
they come to my house
to swim. Because I’m the
one with the pool, I am
often expected to host
our family and friends,
which is fine. I enjoy it.
But people don’t realize
how much work it takes
to make it ready to use.
Here are my suggestions:
1. Don’t show up
early. Come at the
time suggested.
2. Please bring two
towels per person. You
use one towel each time
you get out of the pool,
and when it’s wet, you
borrow one of mine.
Most of the time, I
never see that towel
again. Bring a spare.
3. Remember to take
all your stuff home with
you and please label
everything you bring. I
don’t know which gog-
gles, towels, shirts or
sunscreen are yours when
you come back a week
later looking for them.
4. If you bring food
to one of my pool par-
ties, bring enough to
share. And if you want
to contribute to the
meal I make, bring
something substantial.
I resent spending $75
on meat and you show
up with a bag of chips.
And bring drinks and
ice. If there are leftovers,
take them with you. I
can’t store everything.
5. Watch your kids. I’m
trying to cook, carry on
a conversation, maybe
swim a bit, and your
precious child is run-
ning circles around the
pool. Don’t expect me to
keep an eye on the kids,
too. Have them obey
my pool rules. They’re
for everyone’s safety.
There are probably
more things, but that’s
enough to make me
feel better for now. —
Swimming Along
Dear Swimming:
Everyone has differ-
ent expectations for
their pool guests, but
your rules are sensible,
especially the last one.
Thanks for writing.
Annie’s Mailbox
is written by Kathy
Mitchell and Marcy
Sugar, longtime editors
of the Ann Landers col-
umn. Email questions
to anniesmailbox@
creators.com, or write
to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o
Creators Syndicate, 737
3rd St., Hermosa Beach,
CA 90254. Find Annie
at facebook.com/askan-
nies. To find out more
about Annie’s Mailbox
and read features by
other Creators Syndicate
writers and cartoonists,
visit creators.com.
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ASTROLOGY
E u g e n i a L a s t
ANNIE’S MAILBOX |
ADVICE
Having trouble eating or sleeping after friend’s sudden death
Thursday, June 18, 2015
CELEBRITIES BORN ON
THIS DAY:
Blake Shelton,
39; Carol Kane, 63; Isabella
Rossellini, 63; Paul McCartney,
73.
Happy Birthday:
Avoid
making decisions for the wrong
reasons. Acting emotionally or
impulsively could create prob-
lems and interfere with your
ability to communicate with
people effectively. Regardless of
what others do, try to assess each
situation you face using your
own individual standards. Take
charge and make the choices that
are best suited to the life you
want to live. Your numbers are 8,
11, 22, 26, 30, 41, 47.
ARIES (March 21-April 19):
You will be tempted to say some-
thing you don’t mean. Be mindful
of others and keep on top of
your responsibilities. A change at
home can improve your life, but
patience and compromise will be
necessary. 2 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
Do something you’ve never done
before and you will meet some-
one who inspires you. Use your
imagination to improve your
prospects. Explore new possibil-
ities and focus on learning and
achieving. A new business ven-
ture looks appealing. 4 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Don’t leave anything to chance.
Get the facts and proceed with
precision. Don’t be afraid to put
your own creative input into
everything you do. Standing out
will attract the interest of some-
one who is versatile and interest-
ing. Love is highlighted. 3 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Let your charm shine through.
The more engaging and unique
you are, the better. Keep an open
mind, but refrain from sharing
information that could be used
against you. Don’t fall for a get-
rich-quick scheme. Protect your
assets. 3 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Do
things that bring about positive
changes for you personally and
professionally. Different people
or surroundings will energize
you. Romance is on the rise, and
sharing your ideas with some-
one special will make your plans
more enjoyable. 3 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Do your own thing. Don’t let any-
one put you in a compromising
position or bait you into an argu-
ment. Doing your own thing and
focusing on what will benefit you
will bring you the highest return.
4 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Emotions will spin out of control
if you let someone take over and
dictate what you can and can’t
do. Do your own thing and learn
while you go. The end result will
lead to an unexpected partner-
ship. Work on making personal
improvements. 2 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Short trips will lead to informa-
tion and ideas that will improve
your current personal situation.
Don’t take on more than you can
handle at work or you will appear
to be incompetent. A money deal
will not be as good as it appears.
5 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21): Look over any transactions
you make in detail. An invest-
ment or unexpected financial
gain will change the way you live
and what you do. The dynam-
ics of a relationship will change,
leaving you in a much better
position. 3 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19): Tread carefully when dealing
with business partners. Someone
will make a last-minute alter-
ation that will throw you off your
game. Don’t let your emotions
show or give in to manipulation.
Focus on what you want and
don’t budge. 3 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18): Your unusual ideas will lead
to fast cash. Sharing and taking
part in demonstrations will prove
to be enlightening and could
attract the attention of someone
who has exactly what you need
to turn a dream into a reality.
Romance is on the rise. 3 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Get out and do things with peo-
ple who are youthful and enter-
taining. It will lift your spirits and
give you some food for thought.
Negotiations are favored, along
with solid investments and shar-
ing your emotional desires. 5
stars
Birthday Baby:
You are dis-
ciplined, clever and changeable.
You are outgoing.
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