For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 23, 2024

It’s easy for Elly to laugh at others’ sorrow. She was totally unmoved by Farley’s death.

Not as heavy as the bags under Elly’s eyes..

It’s natural to grieve Farley’s passing, he was a good dog.

It doesn’t feel real yet. But wait until you see something belonging to Farley. His water bowl, or favorite blanket. That will start Niagara Falls. At least that scenario did for me.

(Even though this is a repeat comic),

In my life’s journey, my bags aren’t getting heavier! Instead, with this runaway inflation, it is my wallet that is getting lighter!

Life goes on. Dying is a much a part of life as living.

You had a lot to be serious about. Grandma’s remark about packing, however, seems just a tad heartless.

We all carry our grief differently. Some of us go for days, months and longer, unable to get over a death (whether it be an animal or human.) Secretly, they hide their tears, only to burst out in a hidden place. Others carry grief for what seems a lifetime. They blame others for the death and even blame themselves for the death. But most of us relive the good things that the person, or animal did….some type about grief and have to stop to wipe their tears.

I’m fine! I can swim all the way across the river and back, but my Farley can’t! He never could! Oh God! I am so mad I don’t know what to do! I wanna know why! I wanna know why Farley’s life is over! I wanna know how Edgar will ever know how wonderful his father was!v Will he ever know what Farley went through for April! Oh God I wanna know why? Why? Lord, I wish I could understand!

No! No! No! It’s not supposed to happen this way! I’m supposed to go first. I’ve always been ready to go first! I-I don’t think I can take this! I-I don’t think I can take this! I-I just wanna hit somebody ’til they feel as bad as I do! I just wanna hit something! I wanna hit it hard!

John: Here![grabs Grandma Carrie by the shoulder and positions her in front of Ellie]

John: Hit this! Go ahead Ellie slap her!

Grandma Carrie: [taken aback and confused] Are you crazy?

John: Hit her!

Grandma Carrie : Are you high, John?

Elizabeth [in a frightened tone] Dad, have you lost your mind?

John: We’ll sell t-shirts sayin’ “I SLAPPED CARRIE PATTERSON!” Hit her!

April: [in a scared tone] Daddy, enough!

John: Grandma Carrie, this is your chance to do something for your fellow man! Knock her lights out, Ellie!

Grandma Carrie: [snatches away] Let go o’ me!

John: Ellie, you just missed the chance of a lifetime! Half o’ Winnipeg, Manitoba would give their eye teeth to take a whack at Grandma Carrie!

[Everyone breaks out in laughter}

Elle never wanted 2 dogs in the first place…. There is a dark side that Elle keeps hidden.

More crappy puns.

Wow, what a tortured metaphor Elizabeth and Carrie are exchanging. And indeed Carrie does need to pack; shouldn’t she have left by now? She’s such a minor and incidental character that she feels out of place being included in such an intimate moment.

The first panel feels kind of meta, like it’s Lynn’s response to fans who are upset that the strip has been such a downer. And by the way, I’m hoping the laugh that provoked it was in response to something that happened offstage, and not to “reincarnations.”

I can’t believe how little they scolded April, for doing what she did ALONE! How poorly they ALL supervised her when they returned home. She should have been taught long ago how dangerous the river is and never go there without someone else with her. How much of heroes the two dogs where especially Farley! That part greatly underplayed.

I have never been so exhausted just reading comments about a comic strip. Geez, I think I’ll go to the political comics for some lighthearted banter…

I thank she has to take things the way she does just to make it through life

We are seeing the start of Gramma Carrie’s “old woman” speech as effected by Lynn Johnston. Not as bad as Lynn Johnston’s take on teenager speech, thank goodness.

Even back in 1995, they called them “skycaps” at the airport and not “porters”. Get ready for a lot of “Here’s how I think old people talk” coming from Carrie for as long as she hangs around.

Oh jeez, are they telling us now that Grandma’s about to die too??

Sometimes we laugh to keep from crying, but the important thing is to laugh, wheneve we can.