Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for February 07, 2018

Sonny boy makes valid points, ma’am.

Somehow I sensed this coming. It’s an inversion.

Three years ago, Irma started dating Al, and Gunther was greatly discomforted by it. He returned from Peru, partly over his concerns.

But now, Irma is the one dragging her feet about changing the status quo. And Gunther is encouraging her to go ahead and do it.

I’ve had a low attitude toward Gunther for a good while, but now it seems that there’s actually a glimmer of hope for him.

Good for Gunther! He’s putting aside his complexes to think of his mother’s happiness for a change. All the characters are growing nicely. (As to whether Mr. Gray is a catch, we shall see. The point is, Irma does want him.)

irma, your Son is about to commit a Selfless Act and try to talk You into Marrying Mr. Gray. Perhaps You listen to Him. He’s not Standing in the Way of Your Happiness so Rejoice.

Pick up the phone and call Al and marry Him if that’s what You wish.

But don’t waste money building that “Guest House,” Because Gunther will NOT be Staying.

I think the future is now. Time to make hay while sun is shining. Sorry about the mixed metaphors.

Yeah I thought so yesterday – she didn’t want to change her life o share her life with somebody. But like Gunther said, she also might lose him to another woman. Now, she has to think of pros and cons of losing Al, a man she considers a catch (eh? whatever floats her boat. I think she is impressed with his money and adoration). I wouldn’t be surprised if she thinks: If I wait for Gunthie to finish college and leave home, Al might be gone. Will I miss him Will I regret saying no and expecting us to continue dating? Nah. I will cherish what time I have left with my Gunthie. I will wait to find my own happiness with a man when I feel it is the right time – which is after Gunthie leaves home. If Al doesn’t want to wait, then he is not the right man. As a mom, I get Irma. We have our children such a short time in the span of a lifetime. They leave their nests and begin their own which is the next 40 – 60 years. Irma is probably in her late 40s or early 50s – she has 20 to 40 years left – plenty of time for Irma to have a new life with a man while Gunther lives his own. Yes, she can wait.

Perhaps it’s the mother-son relationship that has become toxic and Gunther recognizes it. Much as he (and many of us) don’t care for Les and – being kind – the jury’s still out for Mr. Gray, given the things the characters don’t know (but we do), I’d say Gunther is miles ahead of the pack today.

I’ve done that. At 66. Too young to die, and too old to live. Nothing more miserable than being alone.

This is sick. I can’t believe I’m still reading this Oedipus Rex plot line; makes me want to gouge my own eyes out.

Panel 1: reverse psychology?

Timing is never perfect. Our Dad passed in 1959; I was almost 10, baby bro was almost 5. Our (now late) mother waited a few years to start dating, till both of us were busy with school. When the man who would become our Stepfather proposed, she told him she needed to talk it over with us. By that time I was almost 15, and told her that bro and I would be leaving home within a few years, so she needed to make a decision based on what was right for her. We never regretted it. Step Dad had his own ways and it wasn’t always a perfect situation, but she had the companionship she wanted.

Good for Gunther.

Good for Gunther.

Does Mrs. Berger work? Life insurance from a departed husband? I thought Mr. Gray who seems to have money attracted her in part due to potential financial security. Anyway – Mrs. Berger may be maintaining Gunthie’s nest too long and even Gunthie knows it.

The star on Irma’s apron changes shape from panel one to panel two.

Al is enough of a catch that he considered the situation of both of the boys and offered to make arrangements that would allow everyone to transition securely.

I am seeing quite a few “he is not a catch” comments. Let’s say mom is 50. How many 50 year old men, with a good job, no crazy ex, not paying child support, or running from the law, are chasing her? Oh yea, he is also ready to accept her family.

How can Gunther graduate when he doesn’t seem to ever attend classes? He and the others never seem to have tests or homework and seem to have plenty of free time.

Does anyone know how the relationship between Gunther’s mom and dad ended?

I don’t see where the hate for Mr. Grey is coming from. He helped the DeGroots renovate the Fuse into a success. He’s friendly to Gunther and his friends. He’s trying to reform Les into an upstanding citizen. Hell, he’s even trying to get Ann to be a family member again. The man is a tough businessman, sure, but he’s been nothing but nice. Irma is a sweet woman, but she reminds me too much of my own mother: Comfortable and set in her ways, not thinking about the long term and it’s benefits (She finally saw the light and things have been better for her since).

None of y’all recognize reverse psychology when you see it? She’s going to have Gunther convince her to marry Mr. Gray and Gunther will not even know he’s doing it.

None of y’all recognize reverse psychology when you see it? She’s going to have Gunther convince her to marry Mr. Gray and Gunther will not even know he’s doing it.

Wow, that took a lot of guts to say in your case, Gunther. If Irma loves uncle Hitch, then she should take a shot at it.She has some growing up to do herself. Get married or your little home will get even smaller and emptier.Listen to yourself and make a move on Tiff, Gunther. It will be sad to watch star trek on your own. Nobody to show your Vulcan ears to.

Someone reminded yesterday that Valentine’s Day is coming in 7 days. Could this be timed to correspond to that date? She is right, and Gunther is right, she needs to marry Mr. Gray. She would hate being alone, Mr. Gray hates to be alone, they are both good people (just because he has connections does not mean he is some kind of mob boss, and if he was—not really in Luannverse—they are both adult) and basically the umbilical cord needs to be cut finally. So it makes sense, not that Greg ever always goes directly to something obvious.

Seeing somebody as a “catch” does not bode well for a marriage. Even when lust has cooled marriages still take passion to work.

Come on mom. Take the tumble. Cut the apron strings.

But Gunther… when you graduate, move away, and get married, then Mom Berger will come live with you, in a “granny flat” behind your own house. You already explicitly told us that this is your life plan, remember? She won’t be left alone back in Pitts, as you’re saying today.

Funny how these two have now switched perspectives on these things, since Gunther and his 2.5 kid plan started at Moony…

Irma goes from being an “all star” mom to “bearing a cross”. Subtle.

Welly, Well, WELL. Looks like Gunther’s is making the Supreme Sacrifice, and putting His Personal Feelings aside for the Sake of His Mother’s Happiness. Good for Him. Of Course SOME Us Knew Gunther had it In Him the Whole Time.

But I submit to You Gentle Readers, the the ULTIMATE Sacrifice will be Gunther’s accepting this new found MISGUIDED “Friendship” that Tiffany has Foolishly forged with Les. And While I find Tiffany being “friends” with Les REPUGNANT, I Hope Gunther won’t do anything Stupid toward Les, and thereby Destroy the Progress He’s made Here Today and possibly This Week.

(Unless Gunther is Absolute SURE He can Get Away with it)

“Rescinder Block”

“Half Past Nein”

“Fishing For A Complimentary Angle”

“That’s The Name Of That Tuna!”

“Don’t Sit On A Tackle”

“If You’ve Got It, Flounder!”

“Shellfish Wonderings”

“A Short Sight Along Peers”

“If He Gives You A Corsage, Just Put A Pin In It”

“The Passed, And The Presently”

“Table Your Lovin’ Cup”

“Rules Of Engagement”

“The Love Barge”

“If He Throws You A Line, Give Him The Boot”

or

“Cast Your Date To The Wind”

My wife has a woman friend who is divorced and has complained a couple of times that men who are interested in her start “love-bombing” her. Never heard the term before, but when I saw Mr Gray and his plans for a house for the “kids” all set to go, I thought of her. She freaks out when a man is TOO ardent in his pursuit. Maybe that’s what’s happening here too.

I am a little disappointed that Irma is so oriented towards Gunther, and that Al Gray’s value goes up if other women might be want to be with him. But I like the direction that Gunther is taking here. The apron strings are gone, mom.

I think the seasonal theme is being shown here! Let me be clear about the characters involved: – I think Mr. Gray is a decent, good fellow. – I think Irma is a good person who is coming to the realization (slowly) that the world around her is changing. – And I think Gunther is really doing well here – encouraging his mother, and applauding her decisions, whatever they may become. Gunth is showing some definite maturity here!

My point is: Al Gray has spoken of “marriage” (at least twice), “addressing concerns” (which have sweet and good intentions), and setting out “plans” (in this case, figuratively AND literally). Al Gray has spoken of many things ……… BUT, has he told Irma the one thing she wants to hear!! … Has he actually said to her, “Irma, I LOVE YOU!!” ?

That’s why this story is happening right before the first ‘Hallmark Holiday’, Valentine’s Day!! And that’s why a petal is later missing from her apron – she is asking herself if: “He loves me … He loves me not …” (?) From here on, only time (and the next strips) will tell.

another thing to consider is that Al Gray (as a character) is tied to other plot threads such as those of the Fuse and issues involving Les (and the Fuse). If Irma rejected him outright then, like Quill (who helped w/ the Fuse only because he was dating Luann and when that went south, so did Quill), he would look elsewhere for greener pastures. Multiple arcs would be disrupted. So yes, I’m guessing that Irma and Al will find a way to tie the knot.

Gunther has a point. Anastasia Steele could still be out there and she likes guys named Gray.

Sounds like Irma does not want to give up that freedom.

NEWS FLASH!!! THIS JUST IN!! IRMA, ya snooze, ya lose! Mr. Grey probably has any of a number of aging cocktail waitresses in Vegas who would be happy (and relieved) to say “I do”.

This is cold. It’s like using a balance sheet to consider marriage. Hurry, decide before the sale is over.

Bizarre. How is it possible that she didn’t think of that before?!

Bizarre. How is it possible that she didn’t think of that before?!

I made a comment here earlier, that sounded a bit rough, but I assure all here that I’m no hater. With a lot of respect to all here, I have deleted it: please all accept my apologies.

Now back to the subject: Irma shouldn’t sacrifice her happiness because it is not with Gunther that she will find it. Wether Uncle Hitch is good for her (or not), she will have to find that out herself. I have doubts, because of his shady relatives, but If she doesn’t see it for herself, the doubts she may have will eat at her for the rest of her life. Gunthy will eventually grow and find his own happiness, but Irma won’t find the same satisfaction watching him become a grown adult, as she will have when she sees that Uncle Al was worth her happiness (or wasn’t.) I don’t want her to sacrifice herself for her “little home.” As she tells Gunth, Because there’s no reason for her to do that. She has a good son and that’s all that matters, wether she fails or succeeds with uncle Hitch. Gunthy will not leave her hanging. Irma alsoseems to dig Uncle Al so I say to her: go for it!

There’s always a catch.

The woman just loves keeping her widdle boy tied to her apron strings. Oh, and yeah she’s totally braindead.

Mrs. Berger has been able to keep “our [hers and Gunny’s] little home” running for some time now on her own, so she cannot be completely witless or unresourceful. The thing is, mysterious Al Gray is intriguing, and seemingly prosperous, not to mention well-connected (but we may not want to inquire too closely into the nature of those connections; maybe both he and Frank DeGroot work for the Company). So Gunther’s noble advice is worth heeding, and it does indeed look as though Irma may re-examine her options….

Irma is forced to confront her feelings for Mr. Gray. Does she want him in her life or not? Gunther has made her realize that trying to have it both ways is a recipe for being left with nothing. Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone if you want have anything in life.

Hmmm . . . the flower on her apron lost a petal between panels 1 and 3. I wonder what that portends.