Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for November 19, 2017

So the moral of the story is that if you want to grin, don’t get married.

Were Luann’s (and Brad’s) grandparents ever shown in a “Luann” storyline back in the day?

I think Frank had to be kinda fun at one time to attract Nancy.

Don’t think I ever saw Luann’s grandparents n I go back oodles of years.

It’s called “Grown up,” Frank.

Frank’s dad looks a lot like Brad.

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Frank is somewhat lamenting that even though his dad lived to be 89, he never saw him grin like that. Next Sunday, we see Frank on the beach crashing the dunes with his new motorcycle, no shoes, no shirt, no helmet, a bottle of booze in his hand, a cigarette in his mouth, and that little tuft of hair flexing in the wind…

Amazing that they were able to depict smoking here, even in a negative context.

As if, that long ago, they had cameras that could clearly capture a moving motorcycle.

Now this is an interesting foible Sunday strip. Franks is ruminating over the same kind of conundrum that Luann is encountering with Tara, although the arcs are not actually related. Should one be a rake, having having fun, flouting convention, because it is so pleasurable, and FREE, or should one be a careful, conservative (I don’t mean politically) in life, live long, but not be FREE to have guilt-free fun? Raising Frank and any siblings probably was the reason that the grandfather took the second path,and he had a long life. Luann is becoming a friend, and being influenced by a person who seems to prefer the former, although Tara is proving to have a lot of sense as well. Anyway , I love the 1940’s s before the war look of the grandfather panel, with a loving detail on the bike too.

“He lived life but stopped living life until he died at 89.” “Nothing wipes the smile off your face like responsibility.” “Family before vice.” Was he really taking his health more seriously or did he sell his bike to make ends meet? Did he quit for his health or did he simply have no money for cigarettes? Did he stop drinking and partying because he needed to get get a job and had no time? Did he stop smiling because he had responsibility? Did he walk for his health or because he had no motorbike. Kids remember one thing and Frank shapes it in a way that makes sense to him.

Hey Frank for one time in your life do something crazy like take Nancy on a European vacation or take the whole family on a road trip to see the USA from coast to coast

When I got the middle age crazies, I skipped the motorcycle and bought and learned to fly an airplane. Wish I could have bought one of each. Being crazy is fun.

Nice one, Greg. I like the ambiguity, compassion and poignancy. A theme worth contemplating, (Longer than a punch line). Kudos to you!

Nothing wrong with being more responsible and improving ones diet. But, enjoying one vice and taking a risk here or there makes life more fun and interesting, just as long as you consider your loved ones feelings before you do it.

Now this is a good one, that provokes a lot of questions. Should you give up all your fun to have kids and live a long life? Is that life worth living if you give up all the fun and focus on responsibility? You can see Nancy & Frank both kind of wrestling with the idea here, as she “corrects” her husband (“at age 89”).

I’m wondering how old the Degroots are if Frank had a father die at 89- he must have been born REALLY late in his father’s life if that’s depicted as being in the past.

But when you get older, you actually start to LIKE peace and quiet.

If he hadn’t given up the red meat he might have made it into his 90s.

Guys are easily amused during the “Hold My Beer” years.

When I had my heart attack, I had to sell my bike. I no longer have the strength to control it. I still have my kids, though :)

His dad died at age 89. He must have been really old when Frank was born.

Giving up cigarettes and starting exercise is smart at any age. The younger the better.

Well, by inference, at least Frank’s dad didn’t quit riding motorcycles. Definitely more grins per mile than cigarettes or booze. ;-)

Another excellent reason to avoid having a family.

Were you around your Dad 24/7 during those years, Frank? Just because you never saw it doesn’t mean he never did it.

If he never grinned like that again I wonder whether he was not all that happy in his marriage. It sounds harsh but, unlike some of the married folks on this list he doesn’t seem to have taken joy in playing with his kid(s) or spending time with his wife. I may be overanalyzing a strip about youthful exuberance and taking risks vs. doing the responsible things for one’s health – perhaps to a fault, but Frank may not know his dad’s full story.

Frank?

“Be Just What You IS.”

“Not What You is Not.”

“Folks that do THIS, Has the Happiest Lot!” – Mr. Wizard the Lizard

At least Frank’s dad wasn’t on a public road – don’t know if the beach was public or private. Could have been a quick and ‘staged’ stunt just for the photo op at the time as he was in the air right then, don’t know. It does remind me of a similar photo of a relative – no booze or cig, though. His ride was still, but his grin was very much there! :)

If this were a Monday strip the rest of the week would be Frank ruminating about getting a motorcycle/sports car/private plane, with a Saturday cliffhanger showing him about to buy said vehicle.

I’m 74. We rode bicycles without helmets, horses without hard hats, roller skates without knee pads. We had no seat belts in cars, no “car seats” at all, yet most of us are still around.

Love it ! This depicts my Mantra for decades . . . It’s been hard to convince the guys in my age group that this is the way to go . . . especially after all my recent medical problems. However, I figure God likes us to enjoy all He made for us (IN MODERATION). I figure why live a long time having to strap yourself down to some healthy regimen and miss out on all the fun and enjoyable things available to us. Maybe it’s like what a comedian once said – After doing all the Healthy stuff – Do you actually live longer or does it only feel like it’s a loong time ?

You folks DO realize it’s only a cartoon ? Cameras back in the day . . . wasn’t on a public road . . . European vacation ! ! ! Give me a Break people !

We realize all that. Just that why don’t you? All you can give us is your crap. Give us a break instead!

I have a picture of my mother—I think on her honeymoon—in a full out, head thrown back, mouth opened wide and smiling laugh. I loved the mother I had, but I’m kind of sad I never knew that carefree, laughing woman who hadn’t yet had kids and responsibilities.

It’s nice to learn that Gramps DeGroot was a Wild and Crazy Guy in his pre-marital youth. Perhaps it helps to explain Brad, too….

Wow. None of you get this message. I didn’t when I was young, either, but I sure do now.

Grandpa’s youth lost its spirit way too soon. Frank may ponder this and wonder if the same thing happened to him. Mid life crisis?

Except when it was expected for taking pictures. I don’t remember my parents or my grandparents ever smiling…or laughing for that matter. My grandfather on my dad’s side would laugh occasionally the last year of his life when he had severe dementia….but that was it. I admit I have wondering what they were like before I was born. Surely they weren’t always the empty joyless zombies that I knew my whole life. I have wondered if I should feel some guilt for my parent’s unhappy trudge through their lives. Were they happy people before the responsibility of raising me and my siblings?