Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19): The shepherd and the sheep have an interesting relationship. The sheep are known to drift to new horizons and greener pastures at will. The shepherd expects no loyalty, but understands the job: Corral and protect. Taurus (April 20-May 20): What seems boring to you is riveting to another — not (SET ITAL) every (END ITAL) other, though. Being a winner with your crowd will depend on choosing your audience or censoring yourself. Gemini (May 21-June 21): You are driving yourself crazy trying to figure out the answer to a puzzle. Maybe this is about an upcoming occasion and how to celebrate it well, or maybe it’s about a relationship in general. Whatever it is, the muses are with you. Cancer (June 22-July 22): Results might not come as fast as you want them to, but keep at it. Faith is a muscle that needs to be exercised just like the other muscles you have. In your love life, you’ll receive the confirmation you’ve been wanting. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): This day echoes the biblical story of the prodigal son, i.e., the one who goes off and goes crazy seems to get the most and best attention — not you. Perhaps you should straight-out ask for your due. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The song insists that “only the lonely” know the way the singer is feeling tonight. However, people who are not lonely but are very empathetic (like you) know, too, and will help the situation. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): Should emoji icons be used as punctuation? In the future, will this be the case? And if so, is this a dumbing down or a smarting up? These and more questions will speak to the emotional intelligence of you and your generation. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): Hopefully, you are still aware of the fun that is to be had under this sky. It’s a lot. A lot more than you had yesterday, and a lot less than you’ll have tomorrow if you play your cards right. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A certain relationship will be on your mind all day. If this relationship had a soundtrack, what would that defining song be? The evening will bring a welcome change in mood. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Did you sleep better than you have in months? Are your stars finally aligning to the projection of your higher mind? No surprise: You’re lightening up and straightening out at the same time. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You do your best work when you are emotionally distanced from a problem. Clear your head; get away. Humor heals! Give your brain a break. Seek comedy. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Well, hey, might you say that the smarter a person is, the more engaged he or she is in what others might classify as “mundane”? This could explain today’s simple fascination.

To write to Holiday Mathis, visit www.creators.com/author/ holiday-mathis and click “Contact.” DEAR ABBY >> I am a single mother of two biracial daughters ages 2 and 4. They fill my life with joy and I am thankful to be their mother. My problem is, I haven’t been able to face my family members since the birth of my second child.

My family has strong Christian roots, and I know they were disappointed when they heard about another unplanned pregnancy. This isn’t the first time I have disappointed them. I smoked a lot of marijuana as a teen and young adult. I straightened my life out during my late 20s.

I miss my family very much, and I also feel my children are missing out by not knowing them. My parents passed away many years ago. My children’s father was beaten to death days before my youngest daughter was born. My aunts and uncles are all I have left, and it breaks my heart to think we have lost them, too. How should I handle this without getting my heart broken? — Mississippi mommy

DEAR MOMMY >> Did these aunts and uncles have children, or are they childless? If you have cousins, consider reaching out to them first, because their views may be less conservative than their parents’. If your family’s Christian roots are as strong as you say they are, they should be both welcoming and forgiving, and embrace your children in their loving family circle.

However, if they are not, then it would be better for your little girls if they were not exposed to them. I have advised in the past that sometimes people have to live their own lives and create their own families. If your relatives are rejecting, that is what you will have to do, not only for your daughters’ sake, but also for your own.

DEAR ABBY >> I have been getting together with a group of ladies for many years now. Husbands and boyfriends are welcome but rarely come. We enjoy meeting at each other’s houses and at restaurants every few months.

We are having a problem with one member, “Gail,” who is envious of “Rose,” a stillbeautiful former model. Gail has been making remarks that Rose “must have had work done” on her face to be able to retain her looks for so long. (I think it is a combination of good genes, sunscreen and incredible bone structure.)

What Rose has or hasn’t done is none of Gail’s business. Rose is aware of Gail’s jealousy, and it puts a damper on our good times and our caring attitudes toward one another. We wish Gail would drop out. Her remarks need to stop. Have you any ideas on how we can deal with this problem? — Club member in the

Southwest

DEAR CLUB MEMBER >> I sure do. The person closest to Gail needs to tell her, privately, that the catty comments make everyone uncomfortable, and if she doesn’t stop, she will no longer be welcome in the group.

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.

Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)