For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for September 07, 2023

Nice facade in the first panel!

Because they’re new.

Well, the people that Michael met were all running the registration lines so conversations like “Take this form here” are not exactly the conversations of lasting relationship.

He hasn’t met any new people. He has interacted slightly with several people whose jobs keep them from having time to treat the people they meet as people.

Reminds me of my college period.

Within 30 seconds of walking into my dorm room on my first day on campus and meeting the stranger who was to be my roommate, I knew I’d just met a real friend. We introduced ourselves and she immediately started sharing her photo scrapbook of her experiences that summer as an attendant in the San Diego Zoo’s Children’s Zoo—I was immediately engrossed, to the point of practically ignoring my parents as they hauled in my suitcases and boxes. I barely came up for air long enough to say goodbye to them. Not only that, she was a horse-crazy horsewoman like myself, and for two years we took riding lessons together (for P.E. credit) and were practically inseparable. She was my best friend until she transferred to another university in order to pursue her career in primatology. We corresponded for a while, but I’m no good with long-distance relationships and we lost contact …I miss her still and think of her often, even though it’s been nearly 60 years since we were roommates.

Don’t look now, but in the third panel if Michael doesn’t stop daydreaming he is just a second away of colliding with the red headed woman carrying the black briefcase!

But then, women carrying important looking briefcases never seem to look where they are going either!

I remember my first day at college, in the dorm. It was pretty much like that. Surrounded by all these people, but feeling lonely because I didn’t know anybody. Then I realized… Pretty much everybody felt the same way. So in that case, I didn’t feel so alone anymore.

Always lonely…even in a crowd…

It’s not easy to adapt to new experiences and environments.

Michael is homesick, but in later years, he’ll appreciate being away from his family (especially Elly!).

My younger girl has already made a lot of new friends during her first week in college. She even has a “mom friend”, and had this friend talk to me on the phone…“Mom to Mom”. LOL

Cuz you’re not home teasing your sis!

None of them are Rhetta.

Welcome to the herd Michael, welcome to the herd.

Transition from total care to lost in a tempest.

Ok, a little melodramatic, but, he’ll adapt.

He hasn’t met the highest hurdle yet, doing his laundry.

A freshman dorm, wait a few weeks, until it starts to smell, as if someone’s keeping livestock in the place.

I can’t really relate. I was in college athletics, so not only did I show up to college before most of the student body, but there was already a group of people that I was spending all day with. I’m not a very social person, but even then it was pretty much impossible not to find people you wanted to hang out with and become friends with.

So, how manny T’s in Patterson?

Yeah, once you finally get the feel of the campus you realize you don’t feel at home there. It takes time.

Being away from home for a longer time…….

I was lucky. When I attended college, I had friends there also. And, I made some new friends, too!

Think he’s said “Two T’s” enough times this week?

The rest of the Panel 3 thought balloon:

“…and none of them can spell my last name right!”

d;o)

I thought Patterson with 2 t’s is the only way it’s spelled….

“Patterson” is easy. Today’s pop quiz: How do you pronounce “Ridenour”?

Won’t be for long……

Canadians are used to long lines. Look at any waiting room in Quebec.

Aww. Poor baby!

Time to grow up a little,Mikey…

Because you’re around people that you don’t know.

is canada one of those nations that the taxbase pays for college?

Welcome to life fella.