The Buckets by Greg Cravens for January 03, 2025

Definitely.

I definitely would slit my throat if I had to relive those years,

I was badly burned on my arms and legs in a gas explosion, the recovery was hell, I would rather go through that all over again than repeating 7-12th grade!

I have sympathy for young people because they seem much more sensible than I was at that age, much less am now.

I definitely remembered and that is why I was so terrified raising a daughter on my own.

My worst peer pressure moment (sophomore year), was a very tall, very tough girl saying, “If you don’t, you’re not one of us!” I said, with a wide smile, “Cool!” and walked away. Got beat up. Still worth it.

I’m surprised that old palm tree hair has enough self awareness to say that.

Definitely number two

Oh, we definitely remember.

Reminds me of “The Noodle Incident”:

Calvin: Lies! Everything Miss Wormwood said about me was a lie! She just doesn’t like me! She hates little boys! It’s not my fault! I’m not to blame! She told you about the noodles, right? It wasn’t me! Nobody saw me! I was framed! I wouldn’t do anything like that! I’m innocent, I tell you!

Calvin’s Mom: What noodles?

Calvin: Oh… uh… Ha ha! Did I say noodles? You must have heard wrong. I didn’t say noodles.

— Calvin and Hobbes

Calvin: I’m supposed to think up a story, write it, and illustrate it by tomorrow! Do I look like a novelist?! This is impossible! I can’t tell stories!

Hobbes: What about your explanation of the noodle incident?

Calvin: THAT WASN’T A STORY! THAT WAS THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH!

Hobbes: Oh, don’t be so modest. You deserved a Pulitzer.

— Calvin and Hobbes

Calvin: All I can say is, THIS year Santa had better bring everything on my list! I’ve been extremely good all year!

Hobbes: What about the noodle incident?

Calvin: NO ONE CAN PROVE I DID THAT!!

— Calvin and Hobbes

Santa: OK boys, have we loaded everything?

Santa’s Helper: Ah, there’s still the matter of this Calvin, sir. His list is 30 pages long, not including the supplement about incendiary weapons. The Research Dept. thought you should handle this one personally.

Santa: Well, is he naughty or nice?

Santa’s Helper: Ah, a bit problematic, chief… here’s his dossier.

Santa: Ohhh yes, the “noodle incident” kid…

Santa’s Helper: That was a while ago, boss. He says he was framed, and we’ve had trouble verifying the particulars. Accounts seem to vary.

— Calvin and Hobbes

“Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooey (like the Noodle Incident I’ve referred to in several strips) is left to the reader’s imagination, where it’s sure to be more outrageous.”

— Bill Watterson, creator of Calvin and Hobbes

That hoodie of Toby seems to be from a Jedi-Collection. I never saw one with an oversized hood like that. But haven’t encountered a Jedi robe with a kangaroo pocket either.

It’s just the natural Order of Things. Dumba$$es hate smarta$$es

Or because you invent new dumb things to do.

“Hire a teenager now, while they still know everything!”

The second once for sure.

Both…….

Some adults say teenagers have to earn their respect. I say they have to earn my disrespect. Granted, most of the teens I meet are at church or in my community theater so that’s my starting point.

Teenage years are fun and hell on earth at the same time, while being smarta** know it all ready to take on the whole world to make it right, bright enough to see new ways of thinking that can make things better, and dumb enough to thumb your nose at the universe. About the last, I am lucky to be still alive.

Boy, DID I do some dumb things.

I did dumb things and survived. I do enjoy teenagers. They are fun to be around. And they let me do dumb things with them.

Your premise is correct. Your reason has some truth to it, but is mostly incidental to the fact that teenagers are some of the most insufferable people on Earth.

It’s the latter.

Jealousy, we want to go back and do them all over again!!

i sure wish i knew as much now as i did when i was a teen…