Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for April 16, 2023

William is a believer in the dictum: Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry alone.

At least he doesn’t inflict his other morning ritual upon the public.

The laugh track of Willam’s life.

William gets a chuckle out of this, but the neighbours are heartily sick of it.

A moment of actual clarity in Ballard.

Here’s what is really funny…nobody gives a hoot William. Nobody has paid the slightest attention to you in 36 years. You ARE a cartoon. I live across the street and I keep my blinds down. And he’s why.

Living on Ballard Street is not a cartoon, it’s a comic.

details, details!

he found out the truth – i wonder if this is what they call “Nirvana”

Hey, William, Don’t we all?

William is happy to have found his place as a commentator on the world around him.

It may not be that way for everyone, but it works for him – he fits the Bill

I think it’s a healthy attitude.

The world is my comic strip.

And anybody who knows me knows I’m a comic character.

The laugh seems to be leaning on him.

The neighbors don’t mind William’s morning comic reference, but they have their qualms about the afternoon strip portion.

Of course, the grease on his sidewalk helps a little bit…

Sure.. that one is for Friday after a hard week, lets see what he has for Sunday after an all night (losing) poker game Saturday night.

Good morning Balladeers and Miss Susan!

“There are many here among us /

Who feel that life is but a joke…”

— Jimi Hendrix, “All Along The Watchtower“

William is honorary captain of The Ballard Street Team Prozac Sardonic Society.

More than a ritual, practically a career in itself. :)

William… ”Living the life of Riley”…