For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for December 20, 2024

Yeah, you do.

Did any of your mothers have this kind of conversation with you like Elly and Mike here?

Well, things could always be worse. But they can also be better so think on the positive. Your aching mouth will stop aching, you will heal. And there’s another girl waiting for you, though I’m not sure if she’s the next one you’ll meet. I know how it ends up.

Apparently, dealing with disaster is a lot like solving a jigsaw puzzle or baking a cake. Not sure who Lynn Johnston is quoting for Elly here, but would Julia Child be a good guess? On the other hand, Mike’s response seems to be something Fred Flintstone would say.

I wonder if philosophers like Plato or Aristotle thought like that.

Sooo… your jaw hurts. And you broke up with your high school girlfriend. Not quite having your whole life fall apart.. Try struggling with how you’re going to pay the rent, the electric bill, and put food on the table, then get back to us..

I hope Ellie let Mike go through this experience without interfering like some mothers do.

Good analogy for the grieving and healing process.

Amen, Michael. That way when you start sorting, the decisions will be easier.

But the Oral Surgeon din’t give him the extracted Wisdom Teeth or the piece there-of, if they came out like mine.

I didn’t think so at the time, nor for a couple years after. The big D from the 1st Mrs was the best thing that ever happened to me.

This strip is a prime example of classic story telling. Unlike the drivel being put out by new authors of old time strips. I’m talking about you, Judge Parker, Mark Trail, Mary Worth, and Rex Morgan over on Comics Kingdom. If they can’t find talented writers, they should just let the strip die an honorable death.

I really like her statement there. Haven’t heard it said quite like that before and it kind of says it all.

“…and if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.”

She is such a good mom! Now I’m farklempt…

There have been some cases with married couples where if one spouse dies, the other goes to pieces, feeling that their life has been taken away from them.

The relationship of Michael and Rhetta is dead-da! :P

Smart mom there.

Michael did a better job respecting Rhetta than his uncle Phil did with Georgia. John, Elly and Elly’s parents had to intervene to get Phil to figure it out that Georgia was not to be taken for granted. Georgia is a woman, and as such was deserving of more respect from Phil than he had for his guitar, his Harley, his horse, his sports car, his trumpet or his Winchester. (all those were alphabetized so as not to show favoritism).

Moms… It is a great place for young men.

Could be wore, could be rainin ! ;-)

Maybe Michael can get focused on school. Until he graduates and has found a steady career, he should only be using that April-shaped body part between his legs to urinate.

This is a double whammy. Michael has to spend Christmas with no Rhetta and no Farley!

I could never talk with my mom about things while growing up. My childhood was difficult with a broken home. Buy the time I was an adult we were more comfortable with each other. Mom was my best friend as an adult. It’s a shame she passed away when we were getting closer. I miss my mom.

Everyone needs a “Mom” pep-talk every now and then.

Tea too hot! Owww….my gums!