Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19): The people who know you best are not always those you live with or have known for many years, or the ones you call family. Likeminds, observant people and kindred spirits will be the treasures of your life today. Taurus (April 20-May 20): You don’t have to worry about pushing the limits of your intellect or your creativity. It all unfolds rather naturally. You’ll be coming up with answers for as long as you keep questioning. Gemini (May 21-June 21): Someone clever has intrigued and inspired you. Now you’re getting increasingly involved in chasing that inspiration so you can build on it. You so want to construct something here for your very own. Cancer (June 22-July 22): Polarization will get old pretty fast. Do what you do when the printer runs out of black ink: Fall back on the color cartridge to see even more of this picture. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Open your mind and your senses to what other people are really looking for. Listen to the message inside the message. Gaps between people that seemed too distant to bother with can be closed with no compromise to integrity. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You once thought of someone as an adversary, but now you’re beginning to wonder if the two of you might make a powerful team. Of course, first you have to agree to be on the same side. Ease into this. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): If your desire is weak, and you aren’t given what you want, the denial is no big deal. If your desire is weak and you get what you want, the victory is no big deal, either. You’re better off waiting for something you really, really want. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): There’s a stressful little knot to unravel. Don’t get out the scissors just yet. Go back to the drawing board. There’s got to be a way to have two winners in this scenario. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): With these complicated social dynamics, it may help to think of yourself as a part of nature — a particular kind of animal with very specific adaptations and talents. The better you know yourself, the happier you’ll be. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Today’s storyline may not be all that emotional or remarkable, but it will seem to have the dramatic music and lighting necessary to evoke the desired audience response. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): If you place too small a value on your work, you’ll be stuck at that agreement. On the other hand, if you price too high you’ll be passed up. Luckily, you have a talent for finding the sweet spot between supply and demand. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): As the sign of the fish you know that not every mermaid wants to be part of the world on land. Right now you’d rather swim in your grotto and enjoy the special things you’ve collected there.

To write to Holiday Mathis, visit www.creators.com/author/ holiday-mathis and click “Contact.” DEAR ABBY >> Four years ago, after three years of marriage, I had a brief affair and was caught by my husband, who is a doctor. We had little girls, so he decided not to divorce me, but I had to cut my long hair short in a man’s style and stop wearing makeup or jewelry except for my wedding ring. He donated all my designer clothes, and bought me men’s clothes. I have begged him to let me wear women’s clothes again and allow me to wear even a short woman’s hairstyle, but he refuses.

Our two daughters are old enough now to notice, and they are a little embarrassed by how Mommy dresses. I no longer have any desire for an affair, but simply want to look attractive. I was a beauty queen in college, but now even my female friends think dressing like this is my idea. Sometimes I feel so embarrassed in public that I want to hide. What do you suggest I try to get him to let me wear my hair long and women’s clothes again?

— Wants to be me again

DEAR WANTS TO BE YOU >> I hope you are aware that what your husband has been doing is considered emotional abuse. What you did was wrong, but you should not have to spend the rest of your life looking like a man if you don’t want to.

To say that your husband is controlling would be an understatement. Because you need more help than anyone can give you in a letter, I’m urging you to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The website is thehotline.org; the toll-free phone number is 800799-7233. Please don’t put this off.

DEAR ABBY >> I am 64 and still a virgin. I now feel I haven’t done all the things I wanted to do with my life, and I realize I won’t live forever. When I see young kids having fun, I regret wasting my younger years.

The biggest issue I have is with being a virgin. I have always believed in true love, but I still haven’t met anyone. I have been going to bars and have multiple accounts on dating websites, but no men close to my age have been interested.

A young man who is 39 has asked to meet up. Should I go on a date with him and see what happens? I know it’s wrong, but I think maybe with a younger guy I could do all the things I wanted to do. What should I do? Please help.

— Prudence the virgin

DEAR PRUDENCE >> Think carefully about what it is you really want. If you go on that date, the chances are that you will succeed in losing your virginity. But don’t count on anything more than that happening.

I’m unclear about what you mean by “doing all the things you wanted to do,” but true love takes time and commitment to develop, and rushing to catch up on all the things you think you have missed is no guarantee you will find it.

DEAR ABBY >> I’m new in the business world and I have a question. At networking events, how do I politely excuse myself from a conversation when I encounter a “Stage 1” clinger?

— Trapped again in Toronto

DEAR TRAPPED AGAIN >> Because at networking events it’s important to make as many contacts as possible, you should say, “It’s been nice meeting you, but please excuse me because I have to circulate, and so should you.”

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.