For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for October 31, 2018

What, no “Elly, are you okay? Were you hurt?”

Mike! I saw that GRIN!

the kids are already awake, El, as they eavesdropped

Judging from Panel 1, young Michael Patterson apparently has the ability to sink part of his head into a door. Impressive!

Dentists make scads of money, he can easily afford another one.

John could save this: “I insisted on taking your car when you would have been more comfortable and safe had you had it. I’m sorry.”

nothing is worsethan telling your husband you had n accidennt!!

The “Wife wrecks the husband’s car” thing is an old, old-school comedy trope going back an eternity. It stems from the days before power-steering, and before women were driving as often, which led to women getting in accidents frequently enough that the “Woman Driver” stereotype became a thing.

It’s kind of interesting seeing it from the perspective of a female writer- the shame and dread of telling the husband about his “third child” really does feel overwhelming here.

Unfortunately, this stereotype still persists, even though women have become better drivers with fewer accidents. I even get a discount on car insurance just because i am a woman. I did wreck my dad’s motorcycle once, when i had just earned my license, dreaded to tell him too, but all dad asked was; and are you allright? But that’s 27 years ago.

My parents argued a lot and believe me, it wasn’t a very humorous.

John totally missed the fact the accident was not Elly’s fault.

For Heaven’s sake, most of the time cars can be fixed.

Kids hell, he’ll wake the dead! (And how appropriate!)

Was there another car you left her to drive?

Elly isn’t the only one who caused John damage. Her father broke the ceiling and it cost John an arm and leg to repair it. What was Elly’s maiden name: Klutz?

What about the other guy’s insurance?

So…Why isn’t the car in the shop? It could have been, at least, partially repaired by now. Most countries require insurance of some type. Besides, it’s only the left, front quarter panel and the bumper. I don’t think John would leave it sitting, damaged, in the garage. He would end up with a bleeding ulcer from looking at it every day.

Not much of a Bondo moment.

You know, it really is Elly’s fault. She shouldn’t have pulled out as the school bus was blocking her view.

from the look of it, it can be repaired.

A glorified hazard to begin with.

Even when the husband is in the accident, the car can sometimes be the most important concern. Hubby was hit by a hit-and-run driver. He called me and kept repeating “He hit my truck, and just drove off! He hit… etc.” I finally calmed him down enough to ask, “Are you HURT? Are the police there to help you? Are you OKAY?” Oh, yeah, he was fine. I said I’d leave right away to pick him up. “But he hit my truck…”

On the other hand, the first (and last) time I tried to ride my brother’s motorcycle, I ended up on the ground, with the motorcycle still continuing down the road for a ways until it flopped over. My brother ran right past my limp body yelling, “My bike! My bike!” (But it’s okay; I was fine).