Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19): It’s your natural, loving response to point out an incremental sign of progress, or appreciate someone’s creation. The support you give others feels so good to you, it’s its own immediate payback. Taurus (April 20-May 20): Many romantic comedies rely on the story convention of two characters who can’t stand each other, except for the fact that they are actually in love. Well, as you’ll discover today, sometimes opposites really do attract. Gemini (May 21-June 21): All you’ve absorbed has changed your purpose and being. You’re grateful for the training you’ve received and you’ll pay it forward in mentorship of others. Cancer (June 22-July 22): In the current group dynamic, yours will be the first word and the last word, and the words that everyone remembers. Luckily for everyone, you’re thoughtful — you don’t take this responsibility lightly. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): You need to influence the group before your plans will move forward. One way is to match your idea with an emotion. And the easiest way to do that is to turn it into a story and tell it well. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your focus on business dealings, sorting out professional concerns and responding to the needs and moods of a group will pay off now and then pay off later too so long as you see each thing through to completion. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): After the fall, loosen up, shake it off and wind it up again. The avant-garde playwright Samuel Beckett called it: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): Sometimes you hear the lie and you let it go, not because you like being lied to but because the lie is small and you’re big enough to see how people get hung up on their defenses. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You gave your heart freely and it floated like a bubble capturing all the oily reflections of color and atmosphere and lightness; then popped. Don’t let that stop you from giving freely again. Not every love is so fragile. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Maybe don’t worry so much about if it’s a good idea or a bad idea just now. Action is the important part. When you act, you learn. It’s not the right advice for every day, but it will work mighty fine for you today. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put your teamwork to the test to find out what the strengths of it might be. Accomplishment with the group will be more satisfying and meaningful than what you accomplish alone. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Whatever you’re doing with investments and earnings, this a moment to double down. It will be the move you smile back on two years from now.

To write to Holiday Mathis, visit www.creators.com and click “Write the Author” on her page. DEAR ABBY >> I’m happily married to the man of my dreams. We met after I had gone through a particularly difficult breakup, and I often credit him with “saving” me. We’ve been together 15 years and have two beautiful children.

While we both have professional careers, I also write romance novels as a hobby and side business. With every book authors write, a tiny part of their lives sneaks into their characters, storyline, etc. When my husband reads my novels — as he does often — he becomes sullen, withdrawn and angry. He can’t seem to understand that 99 percent of what I’ve written is fiction. He’s convinced that everything I write is somehow linked to an old boyfriend or actual events.

This is causing hurt feelings and resentment from both of us. Should I give up writing, or should he learn to deal with it? — Happily ever after

DEAR HAPPILY EVER AFTER >> It’s a fact that talented writers have active fantasy lives. Authors who come to mind would be Mary Shelley, who created “Frankenstein,” Anne Rice and her vampires, E.L. James, who shared her S and M fantasies with the world — and countless male authors including John le Carre, Daniel Defoe and William Shakespeare. (Obviously, Ian Fleming did not do everything that his character, James Bond, did.)

Ideally, your husband — the man of your dreams — should be able to tell you if something bothers him without sulking. And if he trusts you, he should be able to accept that what you are writing is fiction. If that’s not the case, rather than your giving up writing, your husband should quit reading your books.

DEAR ABBY >> My son chose his cousin, “Tim,” as best man for his wedding. Tim gave a speech about how my son was like a little brother to him and mentioned some of the pranks he would play on my son. It was extremely funny, but the reality is that the pranks were quite cruel.

My nephew got very drunk at the wedding, and while my son was dancing with his new bride, a final prank was pulled. Tim approached my son from behind and gave him a huge “wedgie,” which tore my son’s expensive wedding pants apart. My son was very angry. His new bride appeared shocked, and it was a terrible ending to an otherwise beautiful wedding.

My sister promised me that Tim would “make it right.” It’s now four weeks later, and I have learned that my son immediately apologized to his cousin for his reaction (which was understandable). Tim did not apologize and has not accepted any accountability. I thought perhaps his wedding gift would cover the cost of the pants, but my son says it was less than the cost of the thankyou gift my son and his wife gave my nephew.

My sister and her son are frugal, and she now says that her son needs to save his money. Any suggestions other than Judge Judy?

— Wedding wedgie

DEAR W.W. >> Only this: In the interest of family harmony, step back and stay out of it. Your nephew appears to have poor judgment, but how your son and his bride choose to handle what happened is their problem, not yours.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.