When I was about 7 or 8 I was out in the driveway, frying ants with a magnifying glass to focus the sun rays. It was cool – they ran around frantically then curled up and finally sizzled and popped.
Mom walked out and found me, and said come in, I want to talk to you. She took me on her lap and told me about Albert Schweitzer, and his principle of reverence for all life. Schweitzer was famous then, I knew who he was, he was like Mother Teresa in those days – universally revered for his hospital work in the jungles of Africa.
Then she hugged me and said “I love you, and I have reverence for YOUR life.” and put me down.
It changed my life.
Calvin is basically good of course, else Hobbes could not stand him, though the cartoon rarely has an episode showing it. His daily doings ARE a lot of fun. Just this one recalled my own experience
Of course Calvin is basically good. Why would anyone question that? He never does anything truly evil. He has a vivid imagination, and the sometimes has poor judgement, and he sometimes does things that are ill-advised in the spirit of the moment. Yet, does anyone question that he loves his mother and father? Or that he loves Hobbes? Even with Susie, the worst he does is an occasional snowball, or he tries to gross her out by describing his food as something disgusting. I can’t recall a single strip where Calvin has ever done something I would describe as evil.
If there is any doubt about where Calvins Heart is refer to the baby raccoon arc; "Don’t die little Raccoon, it wouldn’t be very grateful of you to break my heart’ One of the most touching strips.
When I was very young, we lived in a subdivision surrounded by corn fields. Heavy rains not only flooded everyone’s basements, they brought out the garter snakes. I have an somewhat surreal memory of standing in the rain, looking at the large pile of snakes in the driveway.
Calvin is just the typical 6 year old boy with a lot of imagination. Which can horrify some who’ve forgotten what it means to be that age. And Hobbes too apparently…
Another rough day at the office; not to mention, traffic both ways! Calvin’s Dad now in his easy-chair, trying to relax and read his book…Calvin: “Hey, Dad, how come everyone else has DVD Recorders, Cable TV (or the equivalent), home computers, Internet access, unlimited freedom, and everything; while we just have to rough it with one landline telephone, and one ordinary color TV set? You know how your poll ratings were in the subbasement yesterday? Well, they’re now all the way down into the subbasement plumbing! But there is still time; you can still make them shoot right through the roof in a moment’s notice if you’ll just spring for it, like other Dads do! Aren’t you worried? Aren’t you concerned? How come you’re just SITTING there?!"Dad: “Roughing it builds character.”Calvin: “AAAAAGH, I should have known!!”Dad: “Well, duh! Now you do. Bath time. Honey, would you?”Mom: “With pleasure!”And yet another well-prepared speech goes PHLLLLLLPP!!!
BE THIS GUY over 8 years ago
…and all the cool kids are doing it.
Alexander the Good Enough over 8 years ago
Muck? Did you say “muck?” Or are you mucking with the censors.
swarms over 8 years ago
What does it mean by ‘muck’ ?
Bilan over 8 years ago
But if you step on a slug, you lose a turn.
rentier over 8 years ago
My grandfather and I did May-bugmucking.
the calvinosaurus that calvin wanted to discover over 8 years ago
Too late asking, Hobbes.
Watcher over 8 years ago
The more worms you muck, the better quality mire you get.
dpaksundar over 8 years ago
The first to reach the pavement is the early bird
bigcatbusiness over 8 years ago
Don’t muck the worms. They will get revenge.
Kim Metzger Premium Member over 8 years ago
“We are the worms,
Upon the sidewalk …"franki_g over 8 years ago
@ Bilan Extra points for slugs! If you have a garden, you’ll understand…..
sonoferu over 8 years ago
When I was about 7 or 8 I was out in the driveway, frying ants with a magnifying glass to focus the sun rays. It was cool – they ran around frantically then curled up and finally sizzled and popped.
Mom walked out and found me, and said come in, I want to talk to you. She took me on her lap and told me about Albert Schweitzer, and his principle of reverence for all life. Schweitzer was famous then, I knew who he was, he was like Mother Teresa in those days – universally revered for his hospital work in the jungles of Africa.
Then she hugged me and said “I love you, and I have reverence for YOUR life.” and put me down.
It changed my life.
Calvin is basically good of course, else Hobbes could not stand him, though the cartoon rarely has an episode showing it. His daily doings ARE a lot of fun. Just this one recalled my own experience
Aaberon over 8 years ago
oh, eeeeeewwwwwwww: that is SO gross.
MissIzzy over 8 years ago
In Belgium snails come out instead of worms. I was there for a few days once, and I’d never seen so many snails in my life.
Chad Cheetah over 8 years ago
Ewww
Godfrey's sugar daddy 69 over 8 years ago
He’s a strange kid
sgm001 over 8 years ago
@sonoferu
Nice story. Thanks
jdlivaudais over 8 years ago
The early worm gets mucked.
Ermine Notyours over 8 years ago
If Calvin were a bird, he’d be “robin” the worms of their lives.
Carl R over 8 years ago
Of course Calvin is basically good. Why would anyone question that? He never does anything truly evil. He has a vivid imagination, and the sometimes has poor judgement, and he sometimes does things that are ill-advised in the spirit of the moment. Yet, does anyone question that he loves his mother and father? Or that he loves Hobbes? Even with Susie, the worst he does is an occasional snowball, or he tries to gross her out by describing his food as something disgusting. I can’t recall a single strip where Calvin has ever done something I would describe as evil.
maxpower44 over 8 years ago
A megalomaniac at the start of life.
Lagoulou over 8 years ago
My philosophy….insects in the house, kill ’em; in their natural environment, leave ’em alone!
nwrunner over 8 years ago
If there is any doubt about where Calvins Heart is refer to the baby raccoon arc; "Don’t die little Raccoon, it wouldn’t be very grateful of you to break my heart’ One of the most touching strips.
Elisabunny over 8 years ago
When I was very young, we lived in a subdivision surrounded by corn fields. Heavy rains not only flooded everyone’s basements, they brought out the garter snakes. I have an somewhat surreal memory of standing in the rain, looking at the large pile of snakes in the driveway.
ToniaSuperStar over 8 years ago
I thinking “mucking” the worms means stepping on them and crushing them into muck. Hobbes expression of horror leads me to think I’m correct.
Battlestar over 8 years ago
Wait until he sees Tremors
Number Three over 8 years ago
Be careful that none of the worms turn… On you!xxx
Charliegirl Premium Member over 8 years ago
If Calvin knew about karma, he wouldn’t smush anything!
Susie Derkins :D over 8 years ago
Good to know….
gvd1348 over 8 years ago
Calvin is just the typical 6 year old boy with a lot of imagination. Which can horrify some who’ve forgotten what it means to be that age. And Hobbes too apparently…
rickray777 over 8 years ago
Another rough day at the office; not to mention, traffic both ways! Calvin’s Dad now in his easy-chair, trying to relax and read his book…Calvin: “Hey, Dad, how come everyone else has DVD Recorders, Cable TV (or the equivalent), home computers, Internet access, unlimited freedom, and everything; while we just have to rough it with one landline telephone, and one ordinary color TV set? You know how your poll ratings were in the subbasement yesterday? Well, they’re now all the way down into the subbasement plumbing! But there is still time; you can still make them shoot right through the roof in a moment’s notice if you’ll just spring for it, like other Dads do! Aren’t you worried? Aren’t you concerned? How come you’re just SITTING there?!"Dad: “Roughing it builds character.”Calvin: “AAAAAGH, I should have known!!”Dad: “Well, duh! Now you do. Bath time. Honey, would you?”Mom: “With pleasure!”And yet another well-prepared speech goes PHLLLLLLPP!!!
rgcviper over 8 years ago
What the muck?
Or as I often say …
How much fud could a fudpucker puck if a fudpucker could puck fud?