Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19): Unless this story is a melodrama, the hero won’t be the seemingly perfect character who always does what’s right, and the villain won’t be sheer evil, either. The hero is flawed but bold. The villain is wellmeaning but ill-advised. Taurus (April 20-May 20): Your needs, wants and future projections are changing. Don’t be intimidated by accounting! You’re probably doing fine, but you won’t really know until you shore up the short-term gains against the long-term costs. Gemini (May 21-June 21): The mind at work won’t be a tight essay or neat math problem; rather, it will resemble a rambling, shapeless amoeba gaining organization as it finds the direction of growth. In other words, be patient. The ideas are still forming. Cancer (June 22-July 22): There are certain qualities that are more universally attractive than others. Still, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to love. Generic attributes aside, affinity will be created through your individual intelligence and sparkle. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): On your way to fun and success you’ll blow past obstacles that used to stop you. Maturity is realizing that most inconveniences are not catastrophes and unfortunate events don’t define you or automatically dictate your mood. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Growth is uncomfortable. It entails understanding what you couldn’t conceive, feeling what you’ve never felt, doing what you haven’t done. Be patient in these early stages. Maybe this whole lifetime is just one long early stage. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): No one gets into the boxing ring without getting punched. No one gets into pool without getting wet. The correct time to be aware of the tone of a place and the game that’s being played there is before entering. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): When dealing with yourself, try and provide the same atmosphere of warmth you so hospitably use in your approach to others. It will make change less scary. The change most needed is small, specific and personal. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’re large and in charge sitting at the royal throne of your life, and yet you realize, as most rulers do, much that happens in your kingdom is beyond your control. Calmly handle what can be handled. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): There’s an art to giving and receiving. Wasted is the opportunity given to one who is ignorant of its significance. If you’re going to ask for more of anything today, ask for more wisdom. You just might get more happiness, too. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Professionals see rejection as inevitable. Superstars see rejection as a skill. When you’re good at rejection you learn more, take the idea to more people, pitch more and ultimately succeed more. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Like most people, most of the time you’re the one on your mind. Hey, taking care of your own needs and happiness serves all. That said, the hours you spend focusing on someone else’s enjoyment will be the best of the day. DEAR ABBY » I have been with my boyfriend for three years. I am pregnant with twins, and we already have a son together. His daughter lives with us as well.

With this pregnancy coming to term, I keep throwing hints to him about us becoming engaged, but he brushes them off. I know he’s the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. I don’t want to pressure him into an engagement, but it’s been three years, three kids and a stepchild, and I still don’t have my ring!

I wouldn’t even mind a long engagement. I just want to know we’re headed in the direction of marriage. I want to know he wants the same things I want. An engagement is the only way I’ll feel sure he plans on spending his future with me. Can you help? — Very pregnant in New

Jersey

DEAR VERY PREGNANT » It should be dawning on you by now that a man who brushes off hints about becoming engaged isn’t interested in a formal arrangement. I wish you had asked for my advice 10 months ago, because I would have urged you not to become pregnant again unless you were sure where the relationship was going.

From where I sit, it is going nowhere. There is no way anyone can help you push someone who is unwilling into marriage. What I CAN do is stress that should anything happen to him, you and the little ones will be left with nothing unless he makes a will that names you as beneficiary. When you discuss THAT with him, do not hint or allow him to brush you off, because the implications are very serious.

DEAR ABBY » My sister “Marcie” is very attached to her dog, “Doodles.” She had two. They were quite old, and one passed last year. It was traumatic for the entire family because we were concerned about Marcie’s mental state. Now Doodles looks close to the end, and she’s in a constant state of distress.

Marcie takes the dog with her everywhere, whether it’s appropriate or not. When her in-laws invited her and her husband on a cruise next spring, she burst into tears at the thought of leaving Doodles for a week.

I’m beside myself with worry over my sister’s mental state and afraid of what her dog’s passing will bring. It’s not just Doodles’ age and declining health; Marcie has always let her animals run/ruin her life. Thousands of dollars have been spent replacing carpeting, wood floors, urinestained curtains, rugs and furniture.

Any thoughts? How can she be prepared for what we all know is coming?

— Too attached in Tennessee

DEAR TOO ATTACHED » If you think there is anything the family can do to prepare your sister, forget it. She will go through a period of grieving for the animal companion she has grown to love. To her, Doodles is a full-fledged family member.

When the inevitable happens, be patient, be understanding, be prepared to listen when she pours out her grief and, if necessary, go online to help her find a grief support group for people who are mourning the loss of a pet.

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.