For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for July 26, 2020

quite something to look forward to

My grandparents were “them”. It was quite lovely to see.

My maternal grandparents (the only ones I knew) were not big on the PDA. My sister was at their house one day when my grandfather was being taken for some minor surgical procedure and my grandmother went over and kissed him. My sister almost fell out on the floor. Not anything she would have expected from our grandmother.

This is actually a sad ‘toon, for a lot of reasons. Not least because Lynn’s marriage (the basis for this ‘toon) didn’t last. And sad for me, because I’ve lost so many of my relatives of that generation…

This one displays an interesting contrast between the opinions of John and Elly. Elly seems to view affectionate old people as something to make fun of. John views the same old people as something to aspire to. That’s quite a difference between the two and you can tell from Elly’s shocked expression in the last panel, she is going to keep her hands in her pockets. (Sorry John). Me, personally, I am with John on this one. I prefer to admire the affectionate old couple.

" And I just hope that can be “us” someday… "

That is up to him, her, fate and good fortune. Best of luck. And if you believe, then may the “Great One” bless your future too. Peace out either way.

Funny-looking? Isn’t a riot? She sounds like a mean teenage girl. Yucko.

Ageist much, Elly?

When I was young, my parents weren’t much on PDA. Years later when I had to move back home, there they were holding hands, hugging, snuggling up on the couch.. I LOVED it :)

With a cane maybe she should not be wearing high heels. Just saying ☺️

Both of my grandfathers were too poor to have cars, even cheap ones. For them, retirement meant no more walking.

Sooner than you think.

Speaking from my own experience when an old couple like that holds hands it’s usually one supporting the other. :)

75? That’s not old these days. Most people are still vital and active if they’ve led a healthy life. I’d say more like 85+.

I was watching a movie and the man killed was 80 and the young detective said " a some old guy" The other detective asked,“’ You expecting to avoid old age, show some respect”.

My parents were like that. I have so many memories while I was growing up of them snuggled on the couch watching TV together, or going out to dances, or taking their annual Labor Day weekend away. The last picture I have of them was the morning my mother died. My father was driven over to visit her, but a really bad storm hit that night so they let him stay. The picture shows my mom in her hospital bed, and my dad asleep in a chair next to her. They would have celebrated their 68th anniversary that fall (2018).

All the moments become more precious as the numbers dwindle and life speeds by.

Recently widowed, and would empty my bank account for a half-hour moment like that. Precious times.

That was rather shallow of Elly… not to mention how ridiculous THEY look…

Nicely put John,,,

Seeing an old couple that are still in love is incredibly sweet! <3 <3

Considering the history of the author, Lynn, and the history of the comic strip, you would expect the positions of these two characters to be reversed.

Funny… when you’re in your early 30’s, as I’m thinking John and Elly must be, what with having both a teenager and a baby in the house…

maybe that old couple looks a nebulous “75 or 80” to you.

Lynn Johnston, in fact, was about 44, when this ran in 1991… and I guess that still sounded reasonable to her then.

Now that she’s about 73… I’m surprised she didn’t edit the strip to say they were 90 or 95.

and I kinda doubt anybody who WAS 75, even in 1991, identified with that couple.

In 1891, maybe 75 or 80 looked that old.

But certainly not now, to us boomer spring chickens.

And it ended up NOT being them.

A rare Sunday strip with dialog.

Sexism and racism finally unacceptable. Ageism, however, persists. Aren’t older people cute? How patronizing and ignorant!

Love is the best retirement plan.

Who has to believe that 70 to 80 is bent over and shuffling. Plenty of us vibrant, healthy and very active 70 to 80 year olds are around. We are biking, playing tennis, work out and living life to the fullest.

I wish all happy couples could grow old together and remain as in love as when they were young.

The first two frames are the “optional” ones which are meant to be a separate gag. Often cut off in newspapers. So the only ‘funny looking’ people are in frame 2.

Holding hands often means one of them has Alzheimer’s.

My parents were like that. Totally in love.My mom died of cancer and three weeks later my dad died. After mom died he said he had nothing to life for, he could not wait to be with her again. He got his wish.

My maternal grandparents were like that. My grandfather passed in 2012 and my grandmother went this past March. While cleaning out their house, I found love letters they wrote to each other throughout their lives. The last one from my grandfather was written just a month before his death, and my grandmother wrote one to him last Christmas, right before her second stroke. I’m keeping them for my grandchildren so they can see the loving relationship their great, great grandparents had.

The way those 2 are dressed, they apparently don’t have any mirrors in their house!!

Hey, we are 78 and we don’t look like that!

Sadly, there are those in life who never enjoy that blessing, because they didn’t make it that far in life.

you and John should be so lucky, Ellie. I’m glad your hubby sees the best in others.

the NORMAL dressed people are funny looking El?! You two look liked you dressed in the dark, or haven’t done laundy in a month and thats the only clean clothes you had to choose from!

Do you know how many babies I saw bop their little faces on those darn aluminum back carrier frames? I had one, too. Hated it. Got rid of it. Do they still make ones for the back? I now see only front carriers.

I love the drawing of April in the first panel. Peeking over the side of her carrier, the edge of it in her mouth. So cute!

I’m 75 and sure don’t look like that!

And yes, my wife and I always hold hands when we are out walking … we even hold hands when riding on the bus.

John used the wrong words. “They”, the old couple will never be young again like “Us”. John meant to say " I hope WE are like THEM someday".

Ellie, your short sightedness is unbecoming.

Irony: the artist and her husband Rod (inspiration for the character John) were divorced in 2007.

my husband and i always said that when we would see older couples. unfortunately he passed away 14 years ago and i am sue a lot of readers are in the same situation. Kudos to those who still have their spouses and get to enjoy each and every day together; make the moments count for future memories.

How fast it does become “us”. Married 52 years next week.

I love to people watch in the park and elsewhere. The couples I see holding hands always amaze me. My wife and I are, dare I say old, approaching 80 and we still hold hands when we’re out and about. Other people look at us for several reasons, I’m about 16 inches taller, she’s thin I’m slightly overweight, we’re of different races, and we hold hands. Several years ago a young man said we made an odd looking couple. My answer was “love is strange”. If you don’t believe that love is strange, just people watch and you will see the oddest assortment of couples. We’ve been a couple for 56 years and as long as we can walk you’ll see us holding hands.

Preach my brother! My bride and I have been walking in the park together for 46+ years, and I don’t care how much we get laughed at, she’s the only one for me and hope she feels the same.

Michael’s indentured servitude: Day 10

What’s wrong with her? WTH is wrong with old people loving each other? And they are at least 85!

According to Lynn Johnston’s postscript, yes.

Thank you Lynn! We’re 80 and 81 and we still hold hands when we walk.!!

I read many of the comments above about Elly’s attitude towards the older folks in today’s strip. Even if it’s being done to show us something regarding John’s sentimentality, reading it has put a very distasteful spin on her for me. Very uncomfortable reading today and I disliked imagining her actually saying those things. Probably because I have SO many times looked longingly and lovingly at older couples and sighed with the desire to be, someday, walking hand-in-hand with my Sweetest Love at an advanced age. So many people are not afforded that luxury… Either to age-out of this life or to be with the one they chose to spend their lives with. Sigh.

I always thought it was sweet and romantic, even as a teen. Ellie is normally an intelligent, kind person. Why would she find it so funny?

He should have said I hope that we can become them someday, his grammar was incorrect!