My mother has advanced senile dementia, and after a few months I have a handfull of stories like this one. You have to laugh or else you will break down crying.
I wonder if Frank King realized what a problem he was going to create for Jim Scancarelli when back in the 1920s he came up with the notion of characters aging in real time.
I doubt King was concerned about what future creators would have to deal with forty years after his passing. While it’s true that there was some promotion or other early on that involved a prize redeemable on Skeezix’s 100th birthday, I don’t think anyone involved ever thought the strip would still be around after all this time.
I also doubt that King would have intended for Walt to still be around as Skeezix headed for his own 90th birthday (which is three and a half months away).
A kind and easy way to deal with this would be for Skeezix and/or Gertie to go in to turn the TV down and find that Walt had fallen asleep and passed quietly in his comfy chair (which is basically how I’d write it if I were doing this).
It may not be that bad…my Mom and one of my aunts were both unable to hear and were talking completely at random. But once my Mom’s ears were free of a ton of wax and my aunt got a hearing aid, things improved dramatically. It wasn’t dementia, it was isolation from the world that was doing them in. Walt should start with a hearing specialist.
It is my belief that too much TV will create paranoia in many people young or old…perhaps due to not enough one on one social and other outside interests. Sad.
It’s possible, Dirty Dragon. At nearly 80 I’m about to go out and shovel some snow off the sidewalk and driveway and do some shopping. Not much else to do till spring when I can start cleaning up my little quarter acre, do some repairs and push mowing my 8,000 sp ft.lawn.
Hafta’ do it if I want to stay healthy. I am blessed.
Mineola about 14 years ago
Yep! Uncle Walt is finally losing it.
Steve Bartholomew about 14 years ago
Definitely not a good sign.
axe-grinder about 14 years ago
It’s not surprising that Walt would be losing touch with reality.
oldbooger about 14 years ago
Been there. Done that.
Herb Thiel Premium Member about 14 years ago
wkevinl about 14 years ago
My mother has advanced senile dementia, and after a few months I have a handfull of stories like this one. You have to laugh or else you will break down crying.
roohey about 14 years ago
Let’s remember Walt was right about the crazy bird/circus story line, they thought he was losing it back then
jumbobrain about 14 years ago
I wonder if Frank King realized what a problem he was going to create for Jim Scancarelli when back in the 1920s he came up with the notion of characters aging in real time.
Paul1963 about 14 years ago
I doubt King was concerned about what future creators would have to deal with forty years after his passing. While it’s true that there was some promotion or other early on that involved a prize redeemable on Skeezix’s 100th birthday, I don’t think anyone involved ever thought the strip would still be around after all this time.
I also doubt that King would have intended for Walt to still be around as Skeezix headed for his own 90th birthday (which is three and a half months away).
A kind and easy way to deal with this would be for Skeezix and/or Gertie to go in to turn the TV down and find that Walt had fallen asleep and passed quietly in his comfy chair (which is basically how I’d write it if I were doing this).
harebell about 14 years ago
It may not be that bad…my Mom and one of my aunts were both unable to hear and were talking completely at random. But once my Mom’s ears were free of a ton of wax and my aunt got a hearing aid, things improved dramatically. It wasn’t dementia, it was isolation from the world that was doing them in. Walt should start with a hearing specialist.
EarlWash about 14 years ago
It is my belief that too much TV will create paranoia in many people young or old…perhaps due to not enough one on one social and other outside interests. Sad.
Dirty Dragon about 14 years ago
If Skeezix is that spry at 90, and Uncle Walt is still going in his hundred and teens.. someone ought to bottle the water they get in Gasoline Alley.
Maybe Rufus is secretly Ponce de Leon, and he fills that jug with the Fountain of Youth ; )
EarlWash about 14 years ago
It’s possible, Dirty Dragon. At nearly 80 I’m about to go out and shovel some snow off the sidewalk and driveway and do some shopping. Not much else to do till spring when I can start cleaning up my little quarter acre, do some repairs and push mowing my 8,000 sp ft.lawn. Hafta’ do it if I want to stay healthy. I am blessed.