Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for April 15, 2015

And yet you wound up with a man who loves you after what, 20-odd years of marriage? Sounds like you came out ahead by quite a lot.

She left out the part where she had to walk over subway grates to get to school each day. Uphill. Both ways.

Happens with guys, too. I know.

Me at 14 as well. At 15 I first dated my husband. Married 36 years, together 38.

The “girl in white” on the subway grate tried several times to find love, ended up dying young and unfulfilled. The skinny girl found someone who has loved her all her life.

Pretty good ending.

Sometimes, those humiliations prepare you to appreciate love when it does come your way.

If I recall how Arlo & Janis met, she had just been dumped by her college BF…for his male cousin.

Listen to the song by Janis Ian. “At Seventeen” is poignant and a shared experience by a great many people. Not everyone is a jock or the homecoming queen. Janis turned out pretty much all right by my lights.

That’s still my life. I’m extremely socially awkward, but I’m going to school to be a social worker.

Appreciate the Marilyn Monroe reference.

School also teaches social skills…

I’m doing fine, however, I was Janis when I was young. I married the wrong man — my father had died when I was 10. My ex was the first guy I had strong feelings for. I was married for 30+ years, now divorced for about 9 or 10 (I forget — it was more important to get away from the abuse). It taught me a lesson. Being with the wrong man is much, much worse tha having no man. I live a good life, now.

How Janis saw herself may not be how she looked to others..Even today, Arlo sees a far more beautiful woman in Janis than she sees..(Arlo is right, of course.)

Someone did like you, Janis, and still does. In fact, you’re still married to him.

me too. still single. not happy. failed love affair 22 yrs ago. still alone. gave up.

So is panel #4 her first glimpse of Arlo? I thought maybe, although I don’t see anyone else mentioning it. And why is she suddenly seven years old?

Those guys in panel look like serious jerks.