RangerArchive April 29, 2021

The
Ranger
Page 6 Thursday, April 29, 2021
SPEED BUMP
by Dave Coverly
THE OTHER COAST by Adrian Raeside
THE OTHER COAST by Adrian Raeside
Abigail Van Buren
Widower dating
again wants to leave
the past in the past
DEAR ABBY: I’m 35 and have
een a widower for almost five
ears. I began dating about two
ears ago.
In my adventures of dating I
ave encountered a lot of divorced
oms. I met someone very special
I’ll call her Rose) a year and a half
go. She’s great. We share lots of
aughs and goals, but she does
omething that drives me crazy.
he’s constantly showing me Faceook
memories/photos of her
aughter when she was young.
I never got the chance to have
hildren and rarely bring up my
ast because I feel that’s behind
e. Rose’s ex is “toxic,” according
o her, and from what I’ve witessed,
he’s pretty bad.
I see her daughter two weeks
ut of the month. The girl is very
poiled and entitled, and when
he’s not around, Rose keeps shovng
old photos of her in my face
nd asking, “Isn’t she so cute?”
I can’t relate, and I don’t care for
er daughter. Does that make me a
erk? I feel those old photos of her
aughter are really her memories
ith her ex, and it would be just as
ad if I showed photos of my late
ife and asked, “Isn’t she beautiul?”
Am I wrong? -- UNPARENT
UT WEST
DEAR UNPARENT: If you
lan to continue a relationship
ith Rose, you are going to have to
eal with your feelings about her
aughter, some of which may be
ff base. It is important that you
ommunicate to her the connecion
you make when you see those
hotos.
If your description of the girl is
ccurate, then realize that as long
s she’s a minor, she will be a presnce
in your household. If you and
er mother can’t figure out a workble
arrangement, you shouldn’t
aste any more of Rose’s time or
ours.
DEAR ABBY: “Ron,” the guy
y best friend, “Stella,” is seeing, is
manipulator. My mother was a
ro at manipulating and gaslightng,
something I recognized after
oing to therapy as an adult. I
now it when I see it.
A month ago, I told Stella what
have observed, and it has escaated
to the point that I told her I
o longer want to be around him.
on, who is 40, throws tantrums
nd threatens to leave when he
oesn’t get what he wants.
The last time I saw him was at a
inner Stella hosted. I left early
fter he threw another tantrum.
on texted me an “apology” that
id not address his behavior that
ight, but something else that hapened
a week ago. He then tried to
uilt-trip me by saying my walking
ut hurt our friends and that he
ould stop hanging around beause
he didn’t want them to be
urt like that.
I haven’t responded to Ron’s
apology” and haven’t seen him
ince. I have seen Stella for lunch
nce since the incident. Must I acept
his apology so everything goes
ack to how it was, or not see my
riend until he is out of her life? --
OT A FAN OF HIM
DEAR NOT A FAN: You don’t
have” to accept Ron’s apology any
ore than you have to accept any
ther unappetizing “gift” that is ofered.
But don’t stop seeing Stella.
rom what you have written, she
eeds a levelheaded friend right
ow. If Ron acts up again in your
resence, leave if he makes you unomfortable.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
Because you want to make your
work the best it can be, you’re
willing to entertain new ideas.
You’ll banter, twist and play
around with your resources.
Changes and add-ons will take it
to the next level.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
The essence of your attractiveness
today is made tangible in the way
you approach common activities
with uncommon grace. Yes, you’re
being observed. In fact, you have
someone’s rapt attention.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
Casual relationships continue to
have a profound influence on the
path your life takes. Friendships
lead to the career opportunities,
romantic ties and lifestyle choices
that color your world.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
No one likes to feel like the person
they are talking to is looking over
their soldier for more interesting
engagements. You are careful to
devote quality attention to the one
you’re with and should accept no
less from others.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ve
known your nearest and dearest
long enough for the relationship
to exist within a large margin of
predictability, and yet... today will
still bring you a surprise.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Complex problems may not require
complex solutions. However,
finding the solution that works
may be a long and winding journey
that seems complicated indeed!
Regardless, stay in it for the
long haul and the satisfying end.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
You are invigorated by the creativity
that flows through you when
you’re designing answers. Your aim
is to make something that contributes
to an easier, more harmonious
and lovelier experience of
life.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
There are no ideal groups, though
it’s fun to imagine things being
better. Organizational change
tends to happen very slowly;
changing yourself is relatively
quick and doing so will affect the
entire group.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-
Dec. 21). You want something
Holiday Mathis
YOUR HOROSCOPE
from someone, and this gives a
nervy and uncomfortable tension
to the relationship. It’s hard to
subvert such a thing. You’d be better
off breaking the tension by
calling out your want.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). You’d rather make things than
own things. You scratch an itch by
making something and giving it
away. You’ll repeat this several
times until one day you’ll decide
to charge for it.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18).
Enthusiasm is Miracle-Gro for
projects, people and bonds. Still,
there’s such a thing as too much.
The wrong dose of excitement
makes people uncomfortable.
Learn what’s appropriate by incrementally
testing the waters.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20).
Nobody is perfect and those who
try and accept everyone’s faults are
saving themselves from a lot of
wasted energy and drama. Busy
people living their purpose (read:
you) don’t have time to mix into
pettiness.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (April
29). What is the secret to your
good fortune? The same thing
that’s at the heart of all good manners
and best practices: paying attention.
You do it thoroughly and
with style. As for the professional
boon in July; it’s not all about the
money but it sure will feel good
when this allows you to do something
special for your people.
Scorpio and Capricorn adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 8, 3, 33,
28 and 12.
BABY BLUES by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott
GARFIELD by Jim Davis
BARNEY GOOGLE AND SNUFFY SMITH by John Rose
ONE BIG HAPPY by Rick Detorie
BLONDIE by Dean Young and John Marshall
BLONDIE by Dean Young and John Marshall
ZITS by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
Answer to Yesterday’s puzzle
BEETLE BAILEY by Mort Walker
Contact Stan Newman at
STANXWORDS@AOL.COM