For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for November 13, 2023

Toddler logic

I once rode a loveseat from Houston to Amarillo

Rocking horses are ace. I have a beautiful handmade one that I ride regularly. Good exercise for the back.

Like a couch DOES go somewhere?! Logic is missing here…

Unlike the couch.

Yes, they do—all over the stable!! LOL

Nothing matches the reach of imagination of a child. That’s the best phase of life.

That’s because they go one step forward and one step back!

When I was a kid a local clothing store had a rocking horse for us kids in the shoe dept.

My baby brother used a recliner as a stunt-bike ramp when he was about 2 or 3. He was all into Evil Knievel. He had a little blue plastic “motorcycle”. He would recline the seat, carry the bike to the top, hop on, scream, “Knievel Knievel!!!” ride down & ramp off the footrest.

Livabeff, Nivabeff, Lizard Lizard Lizardbreath.

I am not sure, but I sense a Lone Ranger theme song in the first panel. April has shown herself to be very aware of 1950s pop culture in the past, so it is consistent with her character, even if it is unusual for a 3-year-old in 1994.

They don’t call it a “love seat” for no reason. LOL Was the trip comfortable?

April already knows the William Tell Overture? Impressive.

Not so. They will naturally oscillate a bit. And if you throw yourself forward with significantly more force than you throw yourself back, you’ll make slow progress

A childs imagination is far greater than video games or toys that replace that imagination

Hah! Preschool logic.

If Elizabeth rides it then she will be be saying “Hey, this is a good ride. Oooh yeah, Anthony!”

Ah, childhood. And the imagination within it.

Yeeeeeeeehawwwww.

You might end up going straight to your room, April, if your mom catches you doing that…

Farley threw her off twice.Only the couch was left.

That would be a funny one if Elizabeth and April are jumping around on the couch and it collapses. Elly comes in and demands an explanation.

Elizabeth: We were just sitting quietly on the couch when it collapsed. It is a miracle we were not hurt.

Elly: Oh no! So many good memories with that couch…

’1982. Elly and a small Michael are sitting on the couch like lumps

Big Bird{on TV}: What you are saying is that Mr. Pooper, I mean Mr. Looper, I mean Mr. Blooper, I mean Mr. Hooper is dead?

1986. Elly, John and Michael, along with a small Elizabeth are sitting on the couch like lumps. Connie, Greg, Lawrence, Gordon and the Enjos are standing in front of them holding hands

Newscaster: Except for Hawaii, New England and large gaps in the western states, Hands Across America was a complete success.

Enjos & Thomases: Hands Across America!

1989. Elly and John are sitting on the couch like lumps

Newscaster: The eyes of the world are on Germany as today hundreds of people, East and West, worked to tear down that wall…

John: BORING! What does that have to do with Canada?

Elly shuts off TV

Elly: My thought exactly. Besides, they have single-payer healthcare, free and compulsory public schools, gun control, social security and a living wage. Can’t understand why anyone would want to leave East Germany any more than a Canadian would want to cross the border because they can’t be patient enough to wait six years for free heart surgery. East Germany and Canada are nearly alike.

So many ways to go wrong here …

“Buuut, Nivabeff! Just doin’ what I see wast week!”