A8
COFFEE BREAK
East Oregonian
Friday, December 31, 2021
DEAR ABBY
Dinner-and-drinks invite makes teetotaler uneasy
DEAR ABBY: My husband, “Dan,” and
I do not consume alcohol, mostly because of
our family history. Several years ago while
Dan was at a work event, a consultant, “Ken,”
took him and some co-workers out for dinner.
Ken ordered a bottle of wine for the table.
Not wanting to cause a scene, my husband
drank the glass poured for him. Now Ken has
invited Dan and me to join him and his wife
for an evening out, and he wants to “meet
early for drinks.”
Dan is sure Ken will buy another
bottle to share. I think Dan should give
Ken a heads-up beforehand. Dan thinks
it would be rude to refuse a drink and
doesn’t want to have to go into an expla-
nation as to why we don’t. We don’t care
if the people we are with drink alcohol.
Is there a polite way to decline without
offending? Should it be ahead of time or
at the restaurant? — RESPECTFULLY
DECLINE
DEA R R ESPECTFU LLY: It is park today with my 2-year-old son when an
perfectly acceptable to refuse
older woman smiled and asked me
when I was due. When I told her,
alcohol. For various reasons,
she replied, “Oh, my God. Are you
many people forgo “the grape”
(and the harder stuff) these days.
sure there aren’t twins in there?” I
If a server asks your husband
thought her comment was appalling.
what beverage he would like, your
Since when is it OK to comment on
husband should state his prefer-
someone else’s body? I was left feel-
ence — be it sparkling water, a
ing embarrassed, angry, and on top
of that, enormous.
soft drink, a juice drink, etc. There
is no shame in it, and it isn’t rude.
I know I shouldn’t care what
JEANNE
PHILLIPS
That the host is providing alcohol
other people say or think, but preg-
ADVICE
is not a mandate to indulge, partic-
nancy is also a hormonal time, and
ularly if the guest has a problem
I can’t seem to get past her nasty
with it. If Ken pushes, Dan should
comment. What ever happened to
simply tell him the two of you generally “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t
prefer not to drink alcohol.
say anything at all”? A simple “Congratula-
DEAR ABBY: I am 30 weeks pregnant tions,” or “How exciting!” would have been
with my second child. I have always been a far more appropriate and well-received
slender, so like many expecting women, I response.
I’m sending this in the hope that ignorant
am somewhat self-conscious of my chang-
ing (and ever-growing) fi gure. I was at the people who say things like this will read it
and realize how hurtful their comments can
be to expectant mothers. Also, how should
I respond if someone else makes a similar
comment? — TEN MORE WEEKS TO
GO
DEAR TEN MORE WEEKS: Two
responses come immediately to mind. The
fi rst would be to tell the person who made
the thoughtless comment, “Wow, that was
tactless!” Or say, “Nope. It’s just one healthy
baby in there.” Of course, a third option is to
say nothing and walk away.
DEAR READERS: I’m wishing you a
happy, healthy 2022. Whew, folks, I can’t
believe we made it so quickly through 2021.
I will join you tonight toasting a new year
that will be a less stressful year for all of us.
If you are celebrating this evening, please
take measures to protect not only your
own health but also the safety of others. —
LOVE, ABBY
DAYS GONE BY
100 years ago — 1921
Two “News Notes of Pendleton”
Attorney Charles H. Carter has
been confi ned to his home for several
days on account of a fall which
resulted in injury to his left shoul-
der and arm. Ice on the street was the
cause of him losing his footing, which
resulted in the fall. In addition to the
physical injury, it is reported that Mr.
Carter’s feelings have been injured.
The trial of Cecil Ledgett, charged
with disorderly conduct as a result of
his alleged acts in front of the Meth-
odist church Christmas night, has
been set by Judge I. M. Schannep for
January 3. The parents of the youth
have also been summoned to appear
at the trial. The boy is 17 years old.
50 years ago — 1971
What was 1971 like for you? And
what do you expect from 1972? These
questions were asked by reporters
Virgil Rupp and Pat Albright on
Main Street in Pendleton. Here are
some of the answers. Rhonda Steven-
son, 6, Kennewick, Wash., shopping
with her father, said Christmas was
the best part of 1971. She’s sure Santa
will return in 1972. Bonnie Jo Carl-
son, Pendleton dancing teacher, said,
“If 1972 is only as good as 1971, I’ll
be happy.” Bob Schiewe, Pendleton,
manager of Gunther’s Restaurant,
said, “This year was a very good
year, better than the last few. We had
more tourists. I expect even more in
1972. The West is the place to go.”
John Clague, Pendleton, a student at
Whitman College, said, “In 1972 I
expect to see lots of changes on the
world scene.”
25 years ago — 1996
Another major storm was poised
off the Oregon Coast today as rivers
continued to rise from a series of
weather systems that have soaked
the state for the last week. With
the Umatilla River reaching fl ood
stage this morning and over a half
dozen other area streams cresting
or running high, the next day will
be critical in determining the sever-
ity of fl ooding in the region. Ron
Morris, a hydrologist with the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation in Pendle-
ton, reported the Umatilla River was
running 7.7 feet high and moving
6,000 cubic feet per second earlier
this morning. As of about 9 a.m.
today, the John Day River was
above fl ood stage and continuing
to rise at Monument, Rock Creek
was creating minor fl ooding along
the highway between Heppner and
Spray, and the Walla Walla River
near Touchet was expected to crest
about midday. The weather service is
predicting more rain tonight or this
afternoon, possibly up to half an inch
in the Pendleton area over the next
48 hours. “Half an inch more, we’re
thinking we could have a major fl ood
tomorrow,” said Morris of what Jan.
1, 1997, could bring.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY
On Dec. 31, 2019, the health
commission in the central Chinese
city of Wuhan announced that experts
were investigating an outbreak of
respiratory illness and that most of
the victims had visited a seafood
market in the city; the statement said
27 people had become ill with a strain
of viral pneumonia and that seven
were in serious condition.
In 1775, during the Revolutionary
War, the British repulsed an attack by
Continental Army generals Richard
Montgomery and Benedict Arnold
at Quebec; Montgomery was killed.
In 1862, President Abraham
Lincoln signed an enabling act
paving the way for Virginia’s west-
ern counties to become the state of
West Virginia, which took place in
June 1863.
In 1879, Thomas Edison first
publicly demonstrated his electric
incandescent light by illuminating
some 40 bulbs at his laboratory in
Menlo Park, New Jersey.
In 1904, New York’s Times
Square saw its first New Year’s
Eve celebration, with an estimated
200,000 people in attendance.
In 1946, President Harry S.
Truman offi cially proclaimed the end
of hostilities in World War II.
In 1972, Major League baseball
player Roberto Clemente, 38, was
killed when a plane he chartered
and was traveling on to bring relief
supplies to earthquake-devastated
Nicaragua crashed shortly after take-
off from Puerto Rico.
In 1974, private U.S. citizens were
allowed to buy and own gold for the
fi rst time in more than 40 years.
In 1978, Taiwanese diplomats
struck their colors for the fi nal time
from the embassy fl agpole in Wash-
ington, D.C., marking the end of
diplomatic relations with the United
States.
In 1985, singer Rick Nelson, 45,
and six other people were killed when
fi re broke out aboard a DC-3 that was
taking the group to a New Year’s Eve
performance in Dallas.
In 1986, 97 people were killed
when fi re broke out in the Dupont
Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
(Three hotel workers later pleaded
guilty in connection with the blaze.)
In 1999, Russian President Boris
Yeltsin announced his resignation (he
was succeeded by Vladimir Putin).
In 2010, tornadoes fueled by
unusually warm air pummeled the
South and Midwest, killing a total
of eight people in Arkansas and
Missouri.
Ten years ago: President Barack
Obama signed a wide-ranging
defense bill into law despite having
“serious reservations” about provi-
sions that regulated the detention,
interrogation and prosecution of
suspected terrorists.
Five years ago: Mariah Carey
ushered in 2017 with a botched
performance on “Dick Clark’s
New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan
Seacrest” on ABC; Carey blamed the
show’s producers for technical diffi -
culties, while Dick Clark Productions
called Carey’s claims “absurd.”
One year ago: Around the world
on New Year’s Eve, pandemic restric-
tions on open air gatherings saw
people turning to virtual celebrations
or made-for-TV fi reworks displays.
In New York’s Times Square, the
ball dropped as always, but police
fenced off the site to prevent crowds
from gathering. Authorities arrested
a suburban Milwaukee pharmacist
suspected of deliberately ruining
hundreds of doses of coronavirus
vaccine by removing them from
refrigeration. (
Today’s Birthdays: TV producer
George Schlatter is 92. Actor Sir
Anthony Hopkins is 84. Actor Tim
Considine (TV: “My Three Sons”)
is 81. Actor Sarah Miles is 80. Actor
Barbara Carrera is 80. Rock musi-
cian Andy Summers is 79. Actor Sir
Ben Kingsley is 78. Producer-director
Taylor Hackford is 77.
CHURCH DIRECTORY
First Christian
Church
(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)
215 N. Main • Pendleton
In Person worship Sundays
at 11:00am
Office Phone: 541-276-5358
Hours: M-F 9:00am-1:00pm
The Salvation Army
Center for Worship & Service
Sunday Worship Service
9:30 - Sunday School
10:30 - Worship Service
Wednesday Bible Study
5:30 Family Fellowship Meal • 6:00 Bible Study
COME AS YOU ARE
150 SE Emigrant
(541) 276-3369
Redeemer
Episcopal
Church
241 SE Second St. Pendleton
(541)276-3809
www.pendletonepiscopal.org
PendletonPresbyterian.com
Sunday Holy Communion: 9am
Wednesday Holy Communion: Noon
M-F Morning Prayer 7am on Zoom
Worship Services On Facebook
10:00am Sundays
All Are Welcome
Community
Presbyterian
Church
14 Martin Drive,
Umatilla, OR
922-3250
Worship: 10 AM
Sunday School at 11:30
201 SW Dorion Ave.
Facebook.com/PendletonPresbyterian
OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR
www.graceandmercylutheran.org
Sunday Worship 8:45 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Nursery Provided)
Fellowship, Refreshments & Sunday School
Check Out our Facebook Page or
Website for More Information
541-289-4535
Pastor Weston Walker
Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA
(First United Methodist Church)
191 E. Gladys Ave. / P.O. Box 1108
Hermiston, Oregon 97838
Our Lady of Angels
Catholic Church
FAITH LUTHERAN
CHURCH
in Mission for Christ LCMC
Sunday Worship.........9:00 AM
Bible Study......10:15 AM
565 W. HERMISTON AVE.
COME WORSHIP
WITH US AT THE
COUNTRY
CHURCH
ONLI NE and I N-PERSON SERVI CES
|
712 SW 27TH
www.pendletoncog.com
love God, love people, and make
disciples who make disciples
PENDLETON
LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH
Sunday Service: 9am & 6pm
Tuesday Kingdom Seekers: 7pm
Wednesday Bible Study: 7pm
We offer: Sunday School • Sign Language
Interpreters • Nursery • Transportation • & more!
Sundays at 11:00am
32742 Diagonal Rd.
Hermiston, OR
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
N.E. Gladys Join
Ave & Us
7th, Hermiston
541-567-6672
JOIN OUR INCLUSIVE
CONGREGATION
ON OUR JOURNEY WITH JESUS
Services 9:00am Sundays
In-person or streaming on
Facebook or Zoom
565 W. HERMISTON AVE.
S U N D A Y S | 8 : 3 0 A M & 10:00 A M
541.276.1894
Red Lion Hotel
( Oregon Trail Room )
Iglesia Católica Nuestra
Señora de los Ángeles
Pastor Dan Satterwhite
541.377.4252
417 NW 21st St. • Pendleton, OR 97801
www.facebook.com/
PendletonLighthouseChurch
Solid Rock
Community Church
140 SW 2nd St Hermiston, OR 97838
541-567-6937
Worship Service: 11:00AM
Sunday School: 9:45
Pastor Wilbur Clark
401 Northgate, Pendleton
401 Northgate, Pendleton
Celebration
of Worship
Celebration
of Worship
Sundays 10:00 am
Youth:
0-6th
grade
Midweek
Service
Midweek Service
Wednesdays 6:00 pm
Overcomer’s
Outreach
Youth: 0-6th
grade
’ High
Jr./Sr.
Pastor Sharon Miller
541-278-8082
www.livingwordcc.com
Pastor Sharon Miller
To advertise in the Church Directory, www.livingwordcc.com
please contact Audra Workman
541-564-4538 or email aworkman@eastoregonian.com