Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19). Once, you thought that you were the happiest when you could play as often as you wished. Now, you’re realizing that your playtime is even better when it’s hard won by the work you put in. Taurus (April 20-May 20): You’re not worried about whether or not you can rise to the occasion of what’s expected of you because you’ve already come to expect so much more from yourself. Gemini (May 21-June 21): There are times when getting ready for the event is just as fun as going to the event. Then there are times when it’s way more fun, which may be the case in the upcoming deal. Enjoy all of today’s preparations! Cancer (June 22-July 22): There will be many different entities competing for your attention and only you know which needs it most — not necessarily the squeakiest wheel either. What’s noisiest isn’t automatically most important. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Opportunities seem to be rushing outside of your window, when in reality they are not. The chances worth taking are now, and have always been, inside you. Your potential can be activated at any moment you will it to be so. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): While some may be able to take comfort and heart in their associations, there is no security for you in the success of others. There’s something in you that has to make it on your own. It is not in your nature to form dependencies. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): You believe in and work toward a better life for all — not just a better life for you and yours. It is because of your broadminded efforts and elastic heart that you’ll net fantastic fortunes today. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): You will achieve prominence in a community. This could be a social club, party affiliation, online community or other. However it shows up, enjoy knowing that this comes with power and a responsibility that you won’t take lightly. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): When you hear yourself speaking what you don’t mean or doing what you don’t want to do, stop and consider what might be causing this duplicity. Once you figure it out, realign yourself properly. You’ll be unstoppable. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The reason why you’re able to let the good (or otherwise) opinions of others roll off your back is that your private rating system for yourself is far more stringent than anyone else’s. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): What you know is enough. It’s what you’re supposed to know. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It won’t highlight the holes in your knowledge, but it will fill them in. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): The way you wish things were — that is a good starting place from which your creative brain can weave a little magic. So what would you ask that genie in a bottle for today?

To write to Holiday Mathis, visit www.creators.com and click “Write the Author” on her page. DEARABBY>> At least “Renee in Oregon” (Sept. 10), who asked her adult daughters for their friends’ phone numbers, cares enough to want someone to call if her adult children don’t respond. I didn’t regard her request as nosy or overbearing, simply so she’d have a “just in case” number. Renee’s daughters sound like ungrateful brats who don’t care anything about worrying their parents.

I’m thankful my four adult children will text me in response to my call to let me know they are OK. I have never had a problem getting a contact number from them for a neighbor or friend. Two of them offered the information without my asking.

I have only had to call a contact once. Thank goodness it was only a matter of a stolen phone, not a sick or injured child. I’m blessed my kids understand that it’s not to get in their business, but a logical safety issue.

— Lucky dad in Kentucky

DEARLUCKYDAD>> I’m glad for you. The response from readers about Renee’s letter was varied, and it was informative to read their perspectives:

DEARABBY>> Thanks for your answer to Renee. It validated my whole life as a daughter of a domineering mother.

She is 92. I’m 62 and live 40 miles from her. I have a fulltime job, take care of a small farm and still, after my weekly visit, have to call her to let her know I got home OK.

She also asks for my friends’ phone numbers. I give her inaccurate ones so she can’t pester them. My office knows to not put her calls through. I have asked her to call my cell, leave a message and I’ll call her back when I am on break.

When I was younger, if she couldn’t reach me by phone, she would call the police and the ERs, send my poor father to my house to look for me, or call my veterinarian to have him make a farm call — just to be sure I hadn’t been ax-murdered.

The negative effect this has had on our relationship is profound. I have tried repeatedly to explain it to her, but she has never “gotten it,” so I have created barriers in order to maintain boundaries. She has a number she can call for her inhome care providers, so if her need is real, she can get help — and there’s always 911. I refuse to exist just for her to engulf. — Purposely childless in

Missouri