Page 6B East Oregonian COFFEE BREAK Thursday, August 13, 2015 PEANUTS BY CHARLES M. SCHULZ DEAR ABBY Forward thinking can help parents deal with cancer Dear Abby: I’m writing in to cherish from her. response to “Not Talking About the “Not Talking’s” wife may want to Future” (March 24), whose wife has consider doing some of these things. breast cancer, was told she has only a I send her, and everyone else dealing FOR BETTER OR WORSE BY LYNN JOHNSTON few years to live, and feels sad when with cancer, a prayer of peace. — her kids talk about their futures. My Proud Daughter, Vancouver, Wash. dad was diagnosed with stage four Dear Abby: I was 13 when my multiple myeloma, a type of blood father found out he had cancer. I cancer, in 2006. He was told that even Jeanne didn’t know what it was, and no one the most aggressive treatment would Phillips in my family sat me down and told buy him only two or three more years. Advice me he was going to die. He passed Well, he’s now working on year nine. away at a hospital out of town, and I While I must admit that it’s been wasn’t there when it happened. When hard at times for me to stay positive about I was told, I was heartbroken. his prognosis, I try not to let it show. Instead, Now, as an adult, I am crushed that I every chance I get, I talk about the future with wasn’t able to have the conversations with him — holiday plans, plans for my wedding him I needed — about his boyhood, grand- B.C. BY JOHNNY HART next year, projects around his house, etc. It parents, his time in the Navy, my dreams, helps to take his mind off the pain and nasti- and just spending precious time with him. ness of his treatments and gets him thinking I would suggest that “Not Talking” and his about positive things. wife tell their teens about her prognosis of Forward thinking has been great medicine three to four years. They deserve to know. for Dad. “Not Talking” and his wife don’t They should have the opportunity to discuss really know how much more time she actu- what’s going on in their lives and allow their ally has, and it certainly doesn’t hurt to think mom to reÀect on her own life, and her hopes positively. — Looking Ahead In Glendale, and dreams for her kids. — Missing My Dad Ariz. In Indiana Dear Looking: Thank you for your upbeat Dear Abby: Being a teenager is chal- message. Read on for a sampling of what lenging, but having a dying parent can make other readers had to say about that letter: it excruciating. No matter how mature the PICKLES BY BRIAN CRANE Dear Abby: “Not Talking” asked if he teens appear, they are not ready to deal with should shield his sick wife from discussions what is coming. involving the future. One thing my mom, The family may bene¿t from the Stephen who died last year, did for the future was Ministries program (stephenministries.org). to take a video of herself visiting with her Stephen Ministers are trained lay volunteers grand-nephews so they would have it to look assigned to provide one-to-one care to people at when they are older. She also bought — or experiencing a dif¿cult time in life. Many gave us — things for our future adopted child, Christian denominations participate. The to give to him or her later on. She crafted parents can contact their local congregation notebooks for us to hand out at her memorial to see if the program is available. — Been service, so everyone would have something There In Fort Worth

BEETLE BAILEY BY DAYS GONE BY 100 Years Ago activities and that she hoped the council will From the East Oregonian continue supporting the club. City Manager Aug. 13, 1915 Tom Harper told city councilmen that CRC That the water shortage in eastern Oregon, Advisory Council Manager Everett Lake had of which State Engineer Lewis has just sent offered to take charge of the youth club “to out warnings, will not interfere with Umatilla keep the club going.” He said he thought there county crops to any considerable extent is was some misunderstanding and that there the statement made today by L.A. Reinemen, had been incorrect rumors prior to Wednesday county water master. In other parts of eastern night’s council meeting that Mrs. Dickenson Oregon the shortage is serious, he reports, had resigned. but this county has been very fortunate. The 25 Years Ago GARFIELD BY Butter Creek country alone is the sufferer in From the East Oregonian this county, he states. The shortage of water Aug. 13, 1990 in Butter and Willow creeks has already been The state’s oldest truss-constructed bridge, felt. The farmers along those streams secured built to accommodate horse and buggy at the a good ¿rst crop but the second crop was short turn of the century, will soon ¿nd a new home and there will be no third crop at all, he says. in Milton-Freewater as a foot bridge. The 50 Years Ago bridge, “built hell for stout” across McKay From the East Oregonian Creek in 1907, was moved in 1929 to its Aug. 13, 1965 current location across Greasewood Creek The Hermiston Youth Club’s adult adviser about 10 miles east and north of Pendleton. has resigned, the CRC Advisory Council had Umatilla County crews are expected to already declined to accept the responsibility start stripping the timber deck and joist-like for sponsoring the club’s activities and one city stringers from the undercarriage of the light- councilman suggested Wednesday night that steel frame today, Roy Thurman, county BLONDIE BY DEAN YOUNG AND STAN DRAKE the club itself be disbanded during the school public works director, said. Thurman said the year. Mrs. Dean Dickenson, youth club adviser county has wanted to replace the bridge for since its founding 14 months ago, resigned at safety reasons, but because of its historical Wednesday night’s council meeting. She said value, a new home needed to be found. The she thought the youngsters had been unjustly deck likely will be narrowed as a foot bridge criticized in the past, that she has received in Milton-Freewater’s Marie Dorion Park for very little adult help in administering club crossing Couse Creek.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY Today is the 225th day of age 90. Today’s Birthdays: 2015. There are 140 days left In 1934, the satirical Former Cuban President DILBERT BY SCOTT ADAMS in the year. “Li’l Abner,” Fidel Castro is 89. Actor Pat Today’s Highlight in created by , made its Harrington is 86. Former U.S. History: debut. Surgeon General Joycelyn On August 13, 1961, In 1946, author H.G. Elders is 82. Actor Kevin East Germany sealed off Wells, 79, died in London. Tighe is 71. Federal Reserve the border between Berlin’s In 1960, the ¿rst two-way Chair Janet Yellen is 69. eastern and western sectors; telephone conversation by Opera singer Kathleen Battle within days, the Communist satellite took place with the is 67. High wire aerialist authorities began building a help of Echo 1. The Central Philippe Petit is 66. Hockey wall that would stand for the African Republic became Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke next 28 years. totally independent of French is 66. Golf Hall of Famer On this date: rule. Betsy King is 60. Movie In 1624, King Louis XIII In 1979, Lou Brock of the director Paul Greengrass is BY AND JOHNNY HART of France appointed Cardinal St. Louis Cardinals became 60. Actor Danny Bonaduce Richelieu his ¿rst minister. the 14th player in major is 56. TV weatherman Sam In 1792, French revo- league baseball history to Champion is 54. Actress lutionaries imprisoned the reach the 3,000th career hit Dawnn (correct) Lewis is 54. royal family. plateau as his team defeated Actor John Slattery is 53. In 1846, the American the Chicago Cubs, 3-2. Thought for Today: Àag was raised for the ¿rst In 1981, in a ceremony at “People are lonely because time in Los Angeles. his California ranch, Presi- they build walls instead of In 1910, Florence Night- dent Ronald Reagan signed bridges.” — Joseph Fort ingale, the founder of modern a historic package of tax and Newton, American cler- nursing, died in London at budget reductions. gyman (1876-1950).

LUANN BY GREG EVANS STONE SOUP BY JAN ELLIOT

ZITS BY JERRY SCOTT AND JIM BORGMAN BIG NATE BY LINCOLN PEIRCE