Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for December 04, 2023

JJ has captured that moment that I believe every parent has either imagined or witnessed.

Being normal is another word for boring?

Are we fixing to split into a new strip with just the kids and the parents as occasional characters?

while undergoing physiotherapy after bypass surgery one of the nurses told me that they like boring – sure beats having somebody wheeled out.

In this context “normal” means “almost or completely conflict-free”.

Or her dad.

One of the best tv shows I’ve ever seen about being “normal” was an episode of “Spongebob Squarepants” called ’Not Normal".

Normal is NOT boring…hype is irritating. Self centeded-ness is damaging

I guess my Daughter In Laws and other people see me as “NORMAL!” But at times they witness “OFF THE WALL CRAZY!”

No one has ever been able to clearly define ‘normal’ to me. that said I’m so far off normal that maybe I would never recognize it if it were in front of me.

Okay, I think I’ve got it. This couple is Gus’s son and daughter in law. And someday I will learn their names.

Excuse me, Mr. Johnson? How long should I keep checking for the new, revamped page before giving up in despair?

But it depends on your definition of normal. What was normal in our house wouldn’t have been normal in yours, and I can guarantee you our house was not boring. So, what’s normal?

Could this strip turn into For Better or For Worse – The Other Side?

All we readers know Arlo (lovable as he may be) can be “odd” so Mike doesn’t want him to think that is normal.

Girl: I met a new boy today. Friend: Oh? What’s he like? Girl: He’s normal. Friend: Oh, you are so lucky!

Boy: I met a new girl today. Friend: Oh? What’s she like? Boy: She’s normal. Friend: Oh, what a bummer.

One might say that Arlo is abnormally normal.

(One should not say this but one might.)

Meg thinks she wants to be a Janis; what she really wants is her guy (forgot his name!) to be Arlo.

ML is such a great character. It’s obvious she adores her in-laws.

for people of our generation (Arlo’s and mine) normal was NOT something one aspired to