Family photos exclude in-law

DEAR AMY » My husband “Dave” and I have been together for almost 10 years. Dave is one of four sons. There have been a number of occasions in which I and other in-law relatives have been excluded from “family photos.”

Ask Amy Amy Dickinson

We have now been married for four years and have a child together. I am still being left out.

This occurred at my own wedding, when to my horror I learned that my mother-in-law had requested a picture from our photographer of only her parents and siblings — without their spouses.

Other times, my mother-in-law will request a “family photo” to include only her, her husband, and their four sons. I was raised in a family that embraced the ever-changing dynamic of families, where both blood and non-blood members were considered equally.

One of Dave’s brothers is now married, an- other engaged, but his family still seems reluctant to welcome these changes.

I have expressed my hurt to Dave, and he has talked with his parents, however, the blood-only family photos have not stopped; his mother has just become more discreet about requesting them.

Am I being overly sensitive in thinking a family photo should include all members?

— Feeling Left Out

DEAR FEELING » The way I read your question, you and other in-laws are not being left out of all family photos, but you resent the fact that you are not included in all family photos. I see this di erently. I think it is cool when parents and siblings get together to re-create some of their group photos from childhood. And I treasure the one photo I have of my mother and her sisters, taken later in life — just the four of

Horoscope » By Eugenia Last

Happy Birthday: Try something new and exciting. Be open to suggestions, and look at what’s trending. Your numbers are 5, 16, 23, 27, 34, 43, 48.

Birthday Baby: You are creative, entertaining and persistent. You are intelligent and persuasive.

Aries (March 21-April 19): Take time to relax and mull over where you are and where you see yourself heading. ★★

Taurus (April 20-May 20):

Participate in events geared toward personal growth, tness and overall better health. ★★★★

Gemini (May 21-June 20):

Put more thought into how you earn and handle your money. ★★★

Cancer (June 21-July 22): Share your feelings with someone you love. The discussion will help you get what you want. ★★★

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22):

O er suggestions, but don’t take on someone else’s obligations. ★★★

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Relax and enjoy life.

Gravitate toward the people and pastimes that make you happy. ★★★★

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):

Don’t expect to sway others to help or take your side.

Walk away from drama and no-win situations. ★★

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):

Unload items you no longer need, and transform your them together (no spouses or children), as they had been in childhood.

It seems that your mother-in-law does this “family photo” thing a lot, and I assume that this symbolizes other ways in which you feel excluded.

I also think that there is sometimes a specific dynamic between mothers and their sons that can feel like an exclusive club, where daughters-inlaw are tacitly treated like interlopers.

The best way to counter this attitude is to continue to embody the inclusive values you were raised with, and to make sure your mother-in-law does not extend this exclusive attitude toward your child.

You and your husband are going to have to show his family how to let others in. The next time his mother makes a move, your husband should say with a smile, “Whoa, wait a minute. Not without my sweetheart.” portfolio to t your nancial needs. ★★★★★

Contact Amy Dickinson via email at askamy@ amydickinson.com.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22Dec. 21): Be careful what you wish for; if you make a sudden move, don’t expect others to follow. ★★★

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A passionate approach will bring positive results. Dig in and get your hands dirty. ★★★

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Bounce your ideas around. A social event will lead to someone you nd intriguing. ★★★

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Open your doors to friends and family, or share something special with someone you love. ★★★★★

PARDON MY PLANET: By Vic Lee

PEANUTS CLASSIC: By Charles M. Schulz

BLONDIE: By Dean Young & John Marshall

THE DUPLEX: By Glenn McCoy

ADAM@HOME: By Rob Harrell

PC AND PIXEL: By Tak Bui

REX MORGAN: By Terry Beatty

Saturday, February 12, 2022

Daily Bridge Club

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Bridge » By Frank Stewart

“Simple Saturday” columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking. Today’s South hand comprises a bunch of “quacks” (queens and jacks) that are often worth less than their high-card value indicates. When North opens the bidding, South’s hand improves a bit since North’s high honors will lend support to those quacks.

So when East overcalls one spade, South jumps to 2NT, inviting game. If South’s spades were K-J-7, he would bid 3NT; his spade honors would be well placed behind the overcaller.

WOULD FAIL

Against 3NT, West leads the king of spades. If South grabs dummy’s ace, he can succeed by forcing out the ace of diamonds next, winning the spade return (or by ducking and winning the third spade) and losing a club to the ace. He has two spades, three diamonds, three clubs and one heart. But if the positions of the minor-suit aces were reversed, South would fail. South should refuse the first spade and win the second. He makes 3NT unless East has both minor-suit aces.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold:

10

North in today’s deal held this hand. When his partner jumped to 2NT over East’s one spade, inviting game, North accepted. Do you agree with that action?

ANSWER: In my opinion, North’s acceptance of South’s try for game was clear. North had only 14 high-card points — his hand lay in the minimum range — but all of his honors were prime, and he had three tens — useful cards especially for play at notrump.

North dealer N-S

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE: By Stephan Pastis

ZITS: By Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

DILBERT: By Scott Adams

PICKLES: By Brian Crane

FOR BETTER OR WORSE: By Lynn Johnston

DOONESBURY CLASSICS: By G.B. Trudeau

MALLARD FILLMORE: By Bruce Tinsley

BABY BLUES: By Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott

SALLY FORTH: By Francesco Marciuliano & Jim Keefe

RHYMES WITH ORANGE: By Hilary Price

WuMo: By Mikael Wul and Anders Morgenthaler

JUMP START: By Robb Armstrong

FRANK & ERNEST: By Bob Thaves

LUANN: By Greg Evans

ROSE IS ROSE: By Pat Brady & Don Wimmer

MUTTS: By Patrick McDonnell

GARFIELD: By Jim Davis

SHERMAN’S LAGOON: By Jim Toomey

FAMILY CIRCUS: By Bil Keane BIZARRO: By Wayno and Piraro

WALLACE THE BRAVE: By Will Henry

More comics

The biggest and best comics collection on the Web: www.mercurynews.com/comics

For Sudoku, Jumble and more, see the puzzle page in Sports