Columns&Games Socializing at the seafood counter

Dear Annie: I suspect my son may be gay. He is a gorgeous, smart, successful young man in his mid-20s, who has really never shown interest in girls. I am perfectly fine with him being gay, and I hope he would realize that.

I wish he would just tell me if that was the case. I’m really not sure if he is because he seems very masculine. But so did Rock Hudson. I would love your gay readers’ opinions. Do they wish their parents would have brought up the subject or just let them come out when they were ready? Is there a good way to ease into the topic? I would hate for him to feel the need to hide it from me for whatever reason. Maybe I’ve said stupid gay remarks in the past? (“Oh, that’s so gay,” or whatever.) I might have, but I can’t remember specifically. I am very ashamed of myself if I did. Is that the reason he feels he can’t open up to me? Or maybe I’m just totally wrong about everything? Is it normal for a man in his mid-20s to show no interest in girls and not be gay? I feel like I have a lot to learn! — Loving Mom

Dear Loving Mom:

As more people have come out of the closet as gay, you should know that you are not alone in asking these questions. I welcome my readers to write in with suggestions for this mother and answers to her questions. Dear Annie: I own a seafood retail business, and we have a customer every Sunday who is hearing impaired and a little slow at the same time. She is very nice and spends a good amount of money every week. Our issue is that we are very busy on Sundays with long lines, and she will take up 15 to 20 minutes of one of my worker’s time while other people are in line behind her.

After she finally chooses what she wants, she will then stand and start talking about other topics. We have tried asking the next customer in line what we can help them with, but she will still stand there and continue to talk while being in the way. We don’t want to hurt her feelings, but other customers behind her get agitated waiting for her and don’t understand that she is a little slow.

Our employees have tried

Horoscopes by Holiday Mathis

ARIES (March 21-April 19).

There’s someone you make daily sacrifices for. You are not always on the receiving end of such generosity, which is why you deeply appreciate today’s gestures, small but affirming that you are loved.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20).

Each relationship has its own music. When one person changes tone, it is natural for the other person to either remain the same and bear the tension of dissonance or adjust in harmony. Either way, a new song is formed.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21).

You don’t have to move to a different country to have a totally fresh experience in your dayto-day. A small change will start a transformation. Today sees you standing where you haven’t been before or talking to someone you didn’t know.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Social situations look intimidating from the outside, but it’s a totally different experience once you settle in. You’ll find allies, and you’ll also discover that people are more friendly than first impressions suggest.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You are especially clever and creative today and will come up with novel solutions. They feel obvious to you, but no one else would think to explore the paths you are so naturally drawn to.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).

You get tired, but keep going. Some new wells of energy and purpose will then be released. You didn’t think this would be

Today’s birthday

You fall in love with a process and with your own brilliant solutions. You move through a problem with such grace, it turns into a dance, a discovery, and a path to riches of the spirit and bank account alike. More highlights: a debt repaid, the beginning of an exciting relationship and a lovable addition to your family. Leo and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 30, 21, 29 and 16.

easy, so you’ll be ready for the level of work that’s coming.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Everyone has a basic need to belong, which includes being seen, heard and acknowledged. With other needs covered, the need to be recognized will be a primary driver of the action.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).

Your water-sign nature is supercharged today and will bring a wave of fun, a spritz of playfulness and a splash of drama to your day. Who do you most want to influence? Focus there because your charisma is on 10.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21). Is there really a difference between stubbornness and tenacity? Note: Just because someone seems to resist or be annoyed by your persistence doesn’t mean it’s not working.

telling her that they have to help the next customer, but that doesn’t work either. Any suggestions on how to possibly rectify the situation? — Confused on What to Do

Dear Confused: This is a tough one. Since this happens every week, you have time to experiment and come up with a game plan. For starters, you might think about assigning one employee to come around from behind the counter and gently lead her away from the line. The employee can have a short conversation, make her feel special and thank her for buying the seafood.

If that doesn’t work, you might consider having a coffee with her and explaining the problem from your perspective, all the while telling her how much you like her and appreciate her business. She is lonely and will look to you as a friend, and, hopefully, be more sensitive of the other customers. Another approach would be to put up balloons and a welcome sign one week, letting her know how important she is, and giving you permission to be firm in moving her out of the other customers’ way. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@ creators.com.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19). It will be a challenge to relate to some of the difficult people around you. Rest assured, there’s a way to process their strange opinions, odd views and weird ways of doing things so that you’re not too inconvenienced or annoyed.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 18). You lean into your better instincts for the sake of social ease. “Better” doesn’t always mean more truthful, but it usually means kinder. You’d rather err on the side of helping everyone feel respected.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Other people’s thought processes are a mystery, though sometimes you feel you know. You want to know what someone is thinking, but asking directly won’t be the way to find out. Indirect questions and rapport-building will bring about more honesty.

CELEBRITY PROFILES:

Ginnifer Goodwin stars in the Fox comedy “Pivoting” about three friends upending their lives to find happiness. Goodwin is a charming Gemini born when the moon and Neptune were in Sagittarius, the sign of daring risk and thrilling adventure. Goodwin is particularly suited to roles that stretch her reality into different worlds. Whether it’s a Shakespearean setting, religious life in a plural marriage or a magical fairytale world, Goodwin is game to explore. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

Crossword

Bridge

by Phillip Alder

tions are cut, and when this happens, it is often fatal to your efforts to defeat or make the contract.

In today’s auction, South’s jump to four spades was a splinter bid, showing a singleton (or void) in spades and slam interest.

DON’T PLAY ON YOUR OWN

In “Camino Real,” Tennessee Williams wrote, “When so many are lonely as seem to be lonely, it would be inexcusably selfish to be lonely alone.” In a bridge context, you are alone if you cannot reach your partner’s hand, whether you are a defender or the declarer. We say that your communica-

West started with his two top spades. Without pausing for thought, South ruffed the second, drew trumps and played diamonds from the top. However, when West discarded on the second round, declarer skidded to a halt. With no trumps left in his hand, he was isolated, alone. In desperation, South cashed the diamond queen before taking a heart finesse, but East won with the king and returned a spade. West took the last trick with the heart 10: down one. That would have been the right line in six clubs, but not in five. If only South had analyzed the play at trick one, he would have noticed his tenuous communications. After ruffing the second spade, trumps should be drawn, ending in the dummy. Then a low diamond is led and, even if East discards, declarer finesses his nine (or 10). Whatever happens now, there are 11 guaranteed tricks, and with this distribution, South brings home an overtrick. All of dummy’s heart losers disappear on South’s diamond winners, and declarer ruffs a heart on the board!

COPYRIGHT: 2023, UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE

Sudoku by Wayne Gould

5/22/23

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9, with no repeats. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box. Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com

Difficulty level: BRONZE

Solution to 5/20/22: