Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for February 23, 2023

Awwwww…

Oh, Walt.. You heard right. Tara is an out-of-control freak! LOL

I wonder where this will go. Will we ever find out what message he had for Bernice?

Family: it’s what you got.

Mood whiplash.

They’re simpatico! So now what?

I would like to know how two cousins, living in the same community, can get to college age without ever before meeting each other.

Cuz or no cuz, he doesn’t look comfortable. Esp after so much berating.

Tara with the Cuz hug for Walt.

blood is thicker…

“I’m just like youuuuuu.

Your just like meeeeee

Its something anyone can seeeee

I like this, its surprisingly wholesome.

Well, they’re both right.

Aw. Two dysfunctional cousins thriving to succeed and going to college to make a better life for themselves and breaking away from their families. Sometimes that is necessary. Reminds me of a streaming channel show about a dysfunctional family. William Macy played the loser dad. OMG. I wondered if there are real families out there like that family. They probably seem normal to Tara and Piro. They might relate to them.

Neither are really what the other heard about them, although being unique is the common trait. What does this all mean is my mystery though.

He was not expecting that!

So… They never met prior to this then?

Do you want to know what sends a shiver down my spine…the fact that there’s still hope for Bernice.

It’s too incredible.And not really the “good” incredible.It’s like the reaching too far and not believable incredible.I guess I will just wait for another good Tiffany story arc

Yes – Tara has a heart. Maybe Tara’s signal will pull Piro up from the depths.

My family motto is:

You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your relatives.

I think it’s also our mission statement.

Let’s see now:

Tara and Walt Piro’s families are (And I use this term generously) “dysfunctional.”

Bets family is “weird,” according to Bets.

Bernice’s family likes to abandon offspring then later play “favorites” with them.

Shannon’s “dad” puts himself FIRST.

Tiffany’s mom is MIA while her dad is rarely around.

Half of Old Smiley’s fam is dead. The other half went to prison.

Les? Well, We all know about his “mom.”

And Gunther? His mom and stepdad are apparently pushy, domineering, bigots.

Once again, going into the fourth decade, Luann’s family IS disturbingly, the ONLY Normal family in the Strip.

Perhaps We should stop asking G&K what they’ve got against “nerds” and cheerleaders and starting asking: What do they have against families?? ;-)

Well sure, she wears orange with her red hair, but that doesn’t make Tara an out-of-control freak. Maybe she steals too, but that’s a different story.

Ahhh, FAMILY!

How sweet! Tara seems so happy to have finally found a relative that would not try to run over her with a car or scam her and which she can speaks with absolute frankness. Piro is absolutely surprised here, surely having a relative who understands him and shows him affection is a new thing for him. Dunno if Tara will try to get Luann and her cousin together, but she sure wants to hang out with them and have good time together. I hope she will also involve Jack, Bernice and Nill in this.

Cuz = Finally, a family member she can trust and not have issues with!

Ah, family…

Will they invoke the family code of silence with Luann Degroot (the gossip queen)?

Is story arc about dysfunctional family members who broke away in order to better themselves. The really dysfunctional members will be angry if they succeed successfully with their quest!

Like Cousin Stella

Hmmm. Here’s a stretch. Drama leads us to a wedding? Luann Starr, Bernice Starr or Tiffany Starr? Nah!!

Surprised Piro. He hadn’t had a hug in a long time.

Honestly cute.

I just love a happy family reunion.

Aw…. family.

“So… if we’re already dysfunctional… is it OK to be… ‘kissing cousins’…?”

Modern America… it’s such an improvement over those repressive 1950s.

Maybe if they hold on to each other, they will be able to travel a straighter path. Same as if a righty and a lefty hold hands and walk in the dark, they will walk a straight line.

Hugs can be disarming. We do a lot of hugging in South Carolina.

I like the idea for the trash can. Many families have their ‘black sheep’ – I was one in my grandmother’s eyes.

Bonding is important, doesn’t matter what over.

So far we’ve learned that Tara and “Piro” are cousins, who are alike, more than they are different. Now will Tara help Piro “hook up” again with Bernice, or, help Luann do it. (Tara does seem to be a bit of a “Yenta.”

A minus times a minus equals a plus.

Um…….what?

Getting better

We’ve drifted far afield from our romance novel writing beginnings back at the first of the year. With a strange interlude thrown that got Tiffany out of the Gulag and back into the Quad.

Novel writing cousins? Where are we going with that?

Since they are cousins, I could see them ending up sharing an apartment if Piro has been having trouble finding a place to stay and has had to resort to couch crashing again. Doubt if Tara is going to play matchmaker with Bern or Luann as she likely thinks that Bern is a bit of a flaky control freak and as for Luann, well once she finds out “Walt” is Tara’s cousin, then all the intrigue and mystery Lu has built up over Piro will go out the window. It would be interesting to see Piro/Walt incorporated into the strip a bit more, perhaps Tara finds out a bit more info on him before this arc runs dry on Saturday.

Ain’t nuthin wrong with kissing cousins.

Walt’s rigidly straight arms in Panel 3 suggest he doesn’t welcome getting hugged…

Man, I don’t want to think about the horrible direction this could lead…

Will they do the freak?

Will we ever find out who broke the widow in Tiff’s Mansion?

Illustrating “out of control”? Wonder who’s around to witness this hug and what Luann’s reaction will be when she hears they are cousins.

Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear.

Well Tara won’t be making a move on PW now. So will he try again for a relationship with Berniece? And will she respond differently?

It’s all so vague we have no information on him really, and I feel he’s going to give away nothing much in the future.

I’m not okay; you’re not okay,But that’s okay…..

Two different perceptions of two cousins from two sides of the family.

Facts are facts. Embrace them until you are ready to change them.

Kissin’ cousins?

Be careful about hearing gossip from ‘family’ members. Hearing bits and pieces, fabricating facts, and jumping to conclusions doesn’t make the gossip true.

I repeat…kissing cousins?

You can choose your friends but your stuck with your relatives.

The femme battle royale.

Weirdness at first sight!

I am still waiting for the guest appearance by Brenda Starr.

I heard a related song today— does someone know precise lyrics?

She’s broken, and maybe it’s sick that I love her because I’m broken too.She’s introverted and I’m introverted too.

tomorrow: Piro and Tara exchange therapist numbers. =:-O

Piro…..Walt, is kinda strange…

Cousins! Such delightful cousins! (I ought to know!)