For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for February 21, 2021

go, April, go!

I remember trying to ‘ride’ our dog when I was little. She always shook me off and walked away.

Apparently the Pattersons don’t own any actual PAIRS of socks for April. I have yet to see her with more than one sock drawn on.

“Yah? Ya-Gah!!” Which is baby for “Look at me! I can pull up on furniture I can’t reach by just using my legs!!”

I used to play recorder with a friend who had a toddler just learning to walk like April. It was adorable … until he would staggeringly grab at our music stands! Sheet music flying everywhere! So one day, when his mom was busy with her other kids, I was able to break him of the habit—I watched him from several feet away and every time he would reach for the stand, I would clap my hands loudly; he would stop and look at me; I would smile approvingly. We went through the routine several more times: reach, clap, stop, smile. It was gratifying how quickly he caught on—the music stand was not to be grabbed! I did have to refresh his memory the following week, but it worked—no more flying music!

Aprils’ first spoken word…“Giddyup!”

Just imagine what the FBOFW International Language translators who translated this comic into 28 different languages, work day was like when they first seen today’s job. They must have pulled their hair out! How do you write ya-gah in Portuguese or Swahili?

My mother told me I did the same thing to our English Bulldog. I’d pull myself up, clinging to his loose skin rolls. He’d take a step, I’d take a step – step, step, step – all through the house. We got into a lot of mischief together. He was one month older than me.

Good boy.. didn’t bark bite or snarl, just walked away. Good boy : )

Grab enough seats and you may get a live one. …smirk

Quite a surprise for ‘Farley’ then a surprise for ‘April’ ! ! ! ! !

That’s how my son learned to walk!

Lesson learned…..

Yippeeeeeeeee…

Little does April know Farley will give his life up for hers.

Looks like St. Michael has regressed some…

Ride ’em cowgirl

“Git along, little doggie…”

One small step for April, one giant leap for the family! He is on the verge of walking.

From what I can tell, “Ya?” means, “Can I do it?”, and “Ya-gah!” means, “I did it!” So, I guess “Ya” means “I do” and since she is using the interrogative, the rest is implied. “Gah” seems to indicate past tense, so “I do” becomes “I did!” Or am I overanalyzing baby babble?

Ride ’em, cowboy.