Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19): Someone who is out of touch with his or her own business will be overly involved with yours. This is beneficial to no one. Life will work better when the everyone takes responsibility for what is rightly theirs, nothing more, nothing less. Taurus (April 20-May 20): Honor the unsung helpers in your life. Anyone who makes you look good deserves your lavish praise and maybe a treat, too. Bonus: Your self-esteem gets a turbo charge. Gemini (May 21-June 21): Though you happen to be in a driven mood, you’ll stay the course even if you know you will never achieve the glorious goal. The true reward is in who you become for having dared to dream. The prize is but a bonus. Cancer (June 22-July 22): You love to be around creative people like you, and ones who aren’t like you, too. Sometimes very creative people say and do the wrong thing, but you offer a measure of leeway for this because they give you so much. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): It’s not that you want people to go out of their way to serve you, but a little well-deserved special care would be nice. The human touch is a kindness you appreciate in whatever form it comes, metaphorically or physically. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): There’s something you could do better if you had formal instruction in it. The training will not be as difficult, time-consuming or costly as you think it will be. Look into it! Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): Because you’re so alive to the possibilities of life, staying on course will be a challenge. Your interactions may feel unfocused, yet there’s a whimsy in your mood that will add an interesting creative element to your work. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): Different places grow different plants. Environments matter. Try to see the entire context of the issue. Maybe the people involved in a problem are not the ones who are to blame for it. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Chances are, “I’ve tried everything,” really means, “I’ve tried a few things.” Failing is hard, but it gets easier as you keep going. If nothing has worked, that doesn’t mean nothing will. Keep trying new things. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Everyone has holes in their education. These missed lessons are like potholes that can cause an accidental trip-up, but at least that will help you to identify where you need to fill in the blanks. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): To remember well is a gift. To forget well is also a gift. If neither is within your grasp today, then it’s only because your brain is busy with a third talent — to project well. You’ll recognize potential and imagine the best of what’s possible. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Ralph Waldo Emerson said that common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. You’ll have such an outfit of genius on today as you solve complex problems with practical finesse.

To write to Holiday Mathis, visit www.creators.com/ author/holiday-mathis and click “Contact.” DEAR ABBY » Recently a friend came over and took me to lunch. She has a small, 50-year-old vintage car that was very popular in the ‘60s. She had come from Marin County over the Golden Gate Bridge to my house.

As she drove us to the restaurant, her car stalled twice. It was very underpowered and, in my opinion, rickety. After she dropped me home, I sent her an email strongly expressing my concern that she is driving an unsafe car. I was worried for her safety. She took offense, so I apologized.

She has plenty of money to buy a safe used car like anyone else, but she says, “I like driving vintage.” I don’t want to get into her car again. Was I wrong to tell her I felt her car was unsafe? — Nervous passenger in San

Francisco

DEAR PASSENGER » You weren’t wrong to warn her. However, you may have been wrong to assume that she has “plenty of money to buy a safe used car.” Nobody has as much money as others assume they do. Because you don’t want to get into her car again, you should provide the transportation from now on or meet her at the restaurant.

DEAR ABBY » My across-thestreet neighbor and I have become friendly. She has a 15-month-old and a newborn. Not only is she not married to the baby’s daddy, but they don’t even live together.

She has been asking me to help her a lot now that the baby is born. I’m 10 years older and raising three kids, all in their teens.

Abby, I don’t want to raise anyone else’s kids. How can I politely tell her that I have my own family to care for? She has a tendency to overreact. — Keeping distance

DEAR KEEPING DISTANCE » To tell your neighbor you “don’t want to raise anyone else’s kids” may be accurate, but it’s a bit rough. When she asks you to do things for her, be pleasant and say — consistently — that you are busy, you don’t have time, you have other plans, etc. If you do, she will soon realize that you are not to be depended upon.

DEAR ABBY » My son has lived overseas on and off for six years. He’s being married to a wonderful young woman where they met, which was in Wales. Needless to say, not everyone can attend, so we are having a reception for them here in the States.

My son already has a fully furnished house overseas and doesn’t need anything, plus the cost of taking gifts back would be astronomical! Anyway, he is thinking of asking for monetary help with the honeymoon. Would this be all right to do and, if so, how do you ask people for it?

— Help for the honeymoon

DEAR HELP » Many young people today post requests like that on their wedding website. Or, because friends and relatives may ask what they need after receiving invitations or announcements, the message can be conveyed verbally. According to the rules of etiquette, however, requests for gifts or money should NEVER be included WITH the invitations or announcements.

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.