Spaceman Spiff- The Early Years. (Anybody who has a problem with Dad, get over it. He’s Calvin’s anchor and reality check- and waiting at the bottom to catch him if he falls.)
One of my earliest memories is watching my older brother (about 7 to my 2 or 3) slide down the supporting poles of the slide, like the firemen. I decided to do that too—but no one told me I had to hang on!! I can still hear the AAAAAHHHHH! of a woman who was in the park with her kid, thinking she was going to pick up my cadaver.Fortunately the slide was built on grass and soft earth, so all I had was a huge bruise. Doctor told my mom not to let me go to sleep for the rest of the day (it was morning) and to take me to the hospital if I acted sleepy. I was apparently never a whit the worse, though after a traffic accident 30 years later a scan showed my skull still carries a “stress mark.”
The same thing happened with my daughter. It was a tall slide, and no matter how much encouragement I gave her, she just couldn’t let go and come down.She is 32 now, but it seems like it happened last week.
Here is a very young Lucy in 1952, a year and a half after Peanuts began, back when she still had really big eyes. The previous strip is from the next year, and by then her eyes had become dotsClick here: Peanuts (April 27, 1952)
It’s all about perspective; but this is the kid that’ll ride a garbage can lid with Hobbes down a giant hill between trees! Hobbes is missing; that’s the problem.
@oronico womble: That one was never published in paperback. Unlike Calvin and Hobbes, there are many Peanuts strips that were never published until recently.
I was never afraid of a small straight slide like that. It was those that go down in a spiral that made me clutch the handrail all the way down and annoy the kids in the line behind me.
Susan; I know we have the same views on Calvin’s father. To me he’s a selfish, sarcastic, resentful person who probably feels he was tricked or coerced into having a child by Calvin’s mother and wishes he didn’t have one. I think he hates every moment he’s forced to play with Calvin. I think that people who don’t see this, who think all fathers are loving and caring are probably in denial.
This is seen from the imagination of a short person…that slide is three times taller than he is; even I would flinch at a 19 foot slide. But in that same imagination he can do anything…it’s just when reality comes along that he flinches.
No, if it was Cedar Point it would be closer to the lake, that looks like it ends around Cincinnati. that would be Kings Island, they have scary rides too.
Come on Calvin, the first diving board I jump off was hundreds of ft higher than that.Why they had that diving board close to the kiddies pool still makes me shiver.
Once my granddaughter slides down with each of the twins on her lap, they realize it isn’t scary and can’t get enough. It’s just that first trip that has some hesitation.
Suppose you were a parent of a highly active kid who keeps turning six over and over for decades, with no end in sight. Calvin’s parents have incredible patience, especially after all these years.
Regarding Calvin’s parents, Slywlf, Hobbes, and Vonne Anton said it well – thank you! Calvin’s parents are perfectly normal. Yes, they get frustrated with him, yes, they yell sometimes, but in general, they deal with an awful lot with Calvin so I understand them.And no, my parents weren’t perfect. I got hit too much, yelled at a lot, etc. But my father died when I was 20, so I never really got to the point where I could tell him that I understood him. I may not still understand or agree with my mother, but I do have the power to forgive and try to get along with her because who knows how much longer she’ll be around either. None of us are perfect, but we have the power to change ourselves, so that’s all we can do. I don’t hold a grudge against my parents, but my sister still does and I see how that affects her and her relationships. I am far from perfect, but I know that being forgiving and understanding is always a lot more helpful than holding a grudge and being critical.
The comic is always in the eyes and perspective of Calvin. Children see their parents quiet differently than reality. I do believe both parents are great parents. They do have a handful in little Calvin…I’ve seen much worse in parents.
The same brother who did the fireman trick used to slide down sitting on waxed paper. After a few passes, you really FLEW down that sucker!!Now I realise why I was always afraid of slides…I’d never stopped and thought about it. Oh, yeah, I slid—but never alone, and I always had this kind of movie playing in my head, just like Calvin.
This seems a bit out of character for a kid who rides a toboggan about a hundred miles an hour downhill in the wintertime, but, oh well, what do I know?
rentier over 12 years ago
It’s good, to have a loveing Dad waiting at the end of the long slide catching you!
bluskies over 12 years ago
Spaceman Spiff- The Early Years. (Anybody who has a problem with Dad, get over it. He’s Calvin’s anchor and reality check- and waiting at the bottom to catch him if he falls.)
rogue53 over 12 years ago
Looks like that slide ride is going to end somewhere in around Ohio.
orinoco womble over 12 years ago
One of my earliest memories is watching my older brother (about 7 to my 2 or 3) slide down the supporting poles of the slide, like the firemen. I decided to do that too—but no one told me I had to hang on!! I can still hear the AAAAAHHHHH! of a woman who was in the park with her kid, thinking she was going to pick up my cadaver.Fortunately the slide was built on grass and soft earth, so all I had was a huge bruise. Doctor told my mom not to let me go to sleep for the rest of the day (it was morning) and to take me to the hospital if I acted sleepy. I was apparently never a whit the worse, though after a traffic accident 30 years later a scan showed my skull still carries a “stress mark.”
yldenfrei over 12 years ago
Ooof. Exactly how I felt when I was a kid.
Aussie Down Under over 12 years ago
Fear is in the eye of the beholder.
Phapada over 12 years ago
Good Dad’s
pelican47 over 12 years ago
I think I’d rather go down the slide than back down the ladder.
mkd_1218 over 12 years ago
OMG! I know where you’re coming from , Calvin!
GROG Premium Member over 12 years ago
Odd that with my fear of heights, I never had a problem with slides when I was young.
flyertom over 12 years ago
There’s a real one down in Brazil that would test your mettle – The Insano.
http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/worlds-highest-water-slide-is-called-insano-looks-pretty-insane.html
anobium625 over 12 years ago
I felt the same way about the high diving board, and I was older than Calvin.
brewwitch over 12 years ago
Spaceman Spiff is a wuss!
rshive over 12 years ago
Imagination wins once more over reality.
Hey, I couldn’t even bring myself to climb up the high slide for a long time.
thirdguy over 12 years ago
The same thing happened with my daughter. It was a tall slide, and no matter how much encouragement I gave her, she just couldn’t let go and come down.She is 32 now, but it seems like it happened last week.
Hobbes Premium Member over 12 years ago
Click here: Peanuts (August 14, 1953)
Hobbes Premium Member over 12 years ago
Here is a very young Lucy in 1952, a year and a half after Peanuts began, back when she still had really big eyes. The previous strip is from the next year, and by then her eyes had become dotsClick here: Peanuts (April 27, 1952)
Phosphoros over 12 years ago
It’s all about perspective; but this is the kid that’ll ride a garbage can lid with Hobbes down a giant hill between trees! Hobbes is missing; that’s the problem.
Hobbes Premium Member over 12 years ago
Click here: Thatababy (February 5, 2012)
BarBaraPrz over 12 years ago
That’s about how I felt my first time on a slide… back in the days when they were higher and straighter than you find on playgrounds these days.
Hobbes Premium Member over 12 years ago
@oronico womble: That one was never published in paperback. Unlike Calvin and Hobbes, there are many Peanuts strips that were never published until recently.
celeconecca over 12 years ago
Oh, I miss those days!
Number Three over 12 years ago
Awwwwwwww!
Don’t be scared, Calvin!
I love the 7th Panel.
xxx
Foghorn Leghorn over 12 years ago
Look MOM, I’m on top of the world
Timberwolves88 over 12 years ago
I’m confused. Calvin loves these situations, so why he’s scared?
BE THIS GUY over 12 years ago
He is not dead.
NE1956 over 12 years ago
Looks like a Phineas & Ferb creation. Never seen things built so tall in my life.
Dverny Premium Member over 12 years ago
He will jump off a cliff in his wagon but is afraid to go down the slide
ewalnut over 12 years ago
I was never afraid of a small straight slide like that. It was those that go down in a spiral that made me clutch the handrail all the way down and annoy the kids in the line behind me.
jeremy0203 over 12 years ago
Susan; I know we have the same views on Calvin’s father. To me he’s a selfish, sarcastic, resentful person who probably feels he was tricked or coerced into having a child by Calvin’s mother and wishes he didn’t have one. I think he hates every moment he’s forced to play with Calvin. I think that people who don’t see this, who think all fathers are loving and caring are probably in denial.
Perkycat over 12 years ago
Thanks Hobbes – enjoyed those. It’s nice that everyone is commiserating with Calvin instead of making fun of him.
Vonne Anton over 12 years ago
This is seen from the imagination of a short person…that slide is three times taller than he is; even I would flinch at a 19 foot slide. But in that same imagination he can do anything…it’s just when reality comes along that he flinches.
Mr Movie Trivia over 12 years ago
No, if it was Cedar Point it would be closer to the lake, that looks like it ends around Cincinnati. that would be Kings Island, they have scary rides too.
kab2rb over 12 years ago
Calvin I would have felt the same way at your age. Than when I got older I wanted to try other things only my mom would not allow it.
ratlum over 12 years ago
Come on Calvin, the first diving board I jump off was hundreds of ft higher than that.Why they had that diving board close to the kiddies pool still makes me shiver.
cookies333 over 12 years ago
LOL that’s how it feels when your six!
Bill Chapman over 12 years ago
Mythreesons over 12 years ago
Once my granddaughter slides down with each of the twins on her lap, they realize it isn’t scary and can’t get enough. It’s just that first trip that has some hesitation.
Hobbes Premium Member over 12 years ago
Suppose you were a parent of a highly active kid who keeps turning six over and over for decades, with no end in sight. Calvin’s parents have incredible patience, especially after all these years.
ralxni123 over 12 years ago
I Love Calvin and Hobbes! My Dad has so many of the comic books and I read them over and over again!
Hobbes Premium Member over 12 years ago
@mythreesons: Sounds like you may have to change your name to mythreesonsandmythreegrandkids!
mike scott over 12 years ago
My favorite strip ever. Makes me giggle everytime
calvinsfriend110 over 12 years ago
He must have strength to climb up that far.
gobblingup Premium Member over 12 years ago
Regarding Calvin’s parents, Slywlf, Hobbes, and Vonne Anton said it well – thank you! Calvin’s parents are perfectly normal. Yes, they get frustrated with him, yes, they yell sometimes, but in general, they deal with an awful lot with Calvin so I understand them.And no, my parents weren’t perfect. I got hit too much, yelled at a lot, etc. But my father died when I was 20, so I never really got to the point where I could tell him that I understood him. I may not still understand or agree with my mother, but I do have the power to forgive and try to get along with her because who knows how much longer she’ll be around either. None of us are perfect, but we have the power to change ourselves, so that’s all we can do. I don’t hold a grudge against my parents, but my sister still does and I see how that affects her and her relationships. I am far from perfect, but I know that being forgiving and understanding is always a lot more helpful than holding a grudge and being critical.
Donriess over 12 years ago
The comic is always in the eyes and perspective of Calvin. Children see their parents quiet differently than reality. I do believe both parents are great parents. They do have a handful in little Calvin…I’ve seen much worse in parents.
orinoco womble over 12 years ago
The same brother who did the fireman trick used to slide down sitting on waxed paper. After a few passes, you really FLEW down that sucker!!Now I realise why I was always afraid of slides…I’d never stopped and thought about it. Oh, yeah, I slid—but never alone, and I always had this kind of movie playing in my head, just like Calvin.
Popeyesforearm over 12 years ago
I make sure I don’t let that happen.
khpage over 12 years ago
This seems a bit out of character for a kid who rides a toboggan about a hundred miles an hour downhill in the wintertime, but, oh well, what do I know?
Stupendous Man!!! over 4 years ago
Hurricane?