Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for August 24, 2016

There must be days that Rick says to himself, “I should’ve stayed single.”

This is like the most depressing story arc ever.

spoilers most two depressing arcs are the AIDS one with Joanie’s college friend and Lacey’s descent into dementia.

Snore…..

What makes Doonesbury the wonder that it is, is that it does present story arcs that touch real things, messy and painful things. For me the ultimate was B.D.’s struggle with PTSD and the time he “came home”. What a painful thing to watch unfolding, culminating in the revelation of the event that did it to him. Beautifully, achingly, horrifyingly painful, something no cartoon strip ever did before or since. It was not depressing like the two mentioned above, simply heartbreaking and heart-healing

we could of had a puppy, but no………

That kid is precisely why men should get vasectomies, Rick !

This story arc is addressing an issue that first got attention when it was written in the Eighties. If both parents have careers, who raises the children? That’s an issue couples have to work out individually – either not have children or one parent stay home. Trudeau gets high praise for bringing it up and making it humorous.

The puppy won’t take care of you when you’re old and feeble. It’s the main thing they have in common with the kid.