A12 East Oregonian PEANUTS COFFEE BREAK Thursday, September 17, 2020 DEAR ABBY BY CHARLES M . SCHULZ Deleted texts to new friend arouse wife’s suspicions FOR BETTER OR WORSE BY LYNN JOHNSTON B.C. BY JOHNNY HART PICKLES BY BRIAN CRANE BEETLE BAILEY BY MORT WALKER Dear Abby: I was involved in Dear Abby: My husband is cur- rently at a job that, at first, he com- a nearly fatal car accident some plained was a “drag.” It later became years ago. My problem is people are a place he seemed to be OK work- always telling me I should be over it ing at. by now, and there shouldn’t be any A new male employee was hired more complaints or pain at this late date. — a man who is on his second mar- riage — and he became friendly Well, that one day changed my J eanne with my husband. Over the last few life drastically. I’m still healing P hilliPs months, I have noticed my husband emotionally, not to mention there ADVICE texting him quite often during his are lifelong injuries I will never be able to overcome. My back is in con- days off, including very late at night. stant pain, and I can no longer lift One day I confronted him after I anything. I also get daily horrific migraines. checked his phone to see what they were tex- ting and saw he had deleted some messages, Because of that, I lost the best job I ever had, which has affected me more than anything. even those he had shared with me as they People can be insensitive, patronizing were texting. He admitted that he had asked and just plain rude if I mention any current him about his first marriage and divorce issues regarding my condition. Most times I since we were having some issues and said respond aggressively; at others, I try my best that’s why he deleted the messages. not to be offended by their lack of empathy. When my husband starts drinking at While I certainly don’t want or need pity, home, he starts texting him, occasionally the fact that my near-death experience is throughout the night until he goes to bed (it shrugged off as just an “incident” bothers me could be until 5 a.m.). He deletes all those greatly. What more can I do? Or should I just messages so I can’t see them. What do you stay silent and count my blessings? — Survi- think is going on? Even on days he is off, he vor in Missouri goes by his job to take care of something or Dear Survivor: There is nothing more help out. — Suspicious in Texas you can do, other than politely refuse if Dear Suspicious: What I think is going on you are asked to do something that’s now is less important by far than what you think is beyond your capacity. As you have dis- going on. It appears your husband has found covered, responding aggressively is a kindred spirit in this new employee — or counterproductive. something more. Dumping on his co-worker Because these individuals have conveyed about problems in your marriage won’t lead that they no longer want to hear about your to satisfactory conclusions. accident, you may have to confide in a will- The two of you need to resolve your issues ing friend or a licensed therapist when you — including the fact that you no longer need to get things off your chest. The latter trust him — by talking them through with might be more satisfying than trying to talk a licensed marriage and family counselor. to people who can no longer tolerate hearing Please don’t wait until the situation deterio- rates further to consult one. about something they have no solution for. DAYS GONE BY GARFIELD BLONDIE DILBERT BY JIM DAVIS BY DEAN YOUNG AND STAN DRAKE BY SCOTT ADAMS 100 Years Ago From the East Oregonian Sept. 17, 1920 A father’s love and anxiety for his erring son are expressed in an intelligently written letter received today by the Salvation Army from W. Z. Bancroft of Denver, father of Emmett Bancroft, alias Neil Hart, slayer of Til Taylor. Death by hanging on November 5 was the penalty imposed on Hart by Cir- cuit Judge G. W. Phelps for the crime. The father pleads for news of his son whom he had not heard of in the past year until word of his plight reached him from the Pendle- ton Salvation Army post. Hart broke down when the heart rending letter from his father was read to him. In his half illiterate style, the convicted man penned a letter express- ing his remorse at the deed committed and the grief he had caused his parents. After his confession Hart appeared genuinely sorry and asked that Mrs. Til Taylor be told of his repentance and that her forgiveness be asked. Until hearing the letter from his father the man who shot Sheriff Taylor in a jail break had never once showed signs of weakening. 50 Years Ago From the East Oregonian Sept. 17, 1970 Bob Chambers had been forced to give up his participation in rodeos, done in by the rigors of the sport on top of the shell shock, malaria and other physical ailments incurred when he was in Burma with the armed forces. For two years after he gave up bronc bust- ing and bull riding, “I was the most unhappy guy in the world,” he said. Then came a move that was to lead Chambers to a place of prominence among rodeo announcers in the West. Just to be around the sport, he wrote the director of the Condon rodeo and asked for the chance to announce it. He got the job and was on his way. He said it wasn’t easy and he almost gave it up several times, but with “the kindness of so many people, par- ticularly in Pendleton” he got bigger shows, then another and other. Now he’s so busy announcing rodeos from April to November it’s unusual to find him in Pendleton. Unless, of course, it’s during the Round-Up, the fourth of which he’s announcing this week. 25 Years Ago From the East Oregonian Sept. 17, 1995 A sophisticated new radar system that resembles a giant white volleyball resting on a four-story-high support is coming soon to the Pendleton area, and the National Weather Service wants you to be forewarned. The wild-looking contraption is part of a $4 bil- lion improvement the weather service began in the late 1980s that is now nearing com- pletion. Construction of the Doppler radar this fall completes the transformation of the Pendleton office into full-fledged fore- casting system. The main purpose of the Doppler radar is to protect human life. The advanced technology allows meteorologists to spot snow, wind, hail, thunderstorms and rain well before it arrives. Because the radar can “see” inside a storm, forecasters can more easily determine a storm’s develop- ment and intensity and thus provide timely and precise weather warnings to the public. TODAY IN HISTORY THE WIZARD OF ID LUANN ZITS BY BRANT PARKER AND JOHNNY HART BY GREG EVANS BY JERRY SCOTT AND JIM BORGMAN On Sept. 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States was completed and signed by a majority of del- egates attending the Con- stitutional Convention in Philadelphia. In 1862, more than 3,600 men were killed in the Civil War Battle of Antietam in Maryland. In 1937, the likeness of President Abraham Lin- coln’s head was dedicated at Mount Rushmore. In 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland during World War II, more than two weeks after Nazi Germany had launched its assault. In 1947, James V. For- restal was sworn in as the first U.S. Secretary of Defense. In 1971, citing health reasons, Supreme Court Jus- tice Hugo Black, 85, retired. (Black, who was succeeded by Lewis F. Powell Jr., died eight days after making his announcement.) In 2011, a demonstration calling itself Occupy Wall Street began in New York, prompting similar protests around the U.S. and the world. Today’s Birthdays: Singer LaMonte McLem- ore (The Fifth Dimension) is 85. Actor Cassandra Peter- son (“Elvira, Mistress of the Dark”) is 69. Rapper Doug E. Fresh is 54. Pop singer Maile Misajon (Eden’s Crush) is 44. Actor Billy Miller is 41. Actor-singer Denyse Tontz is 26. PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN BY DANA SIMPSON BIG NATE BY LINCOLN PEIRCE