Jan Hill is a widow -not just a “grass widow”, either, as I believe you Yanks refer to it.
Sometime after walking out on Jan and Zack (ostensibly
to get some egg nog) Jan’s husband died, making any
sort of “reconciliation” storyline impossible later on.
Or , at least, improbable, although zombies are almost as popular as vampires right now….
I’m not kidding about the egg nog, either. That was an intentionally over-the-top detail that was included in a series of Christmas strips from
about five years ago.
Other sidebars to all of this include storylines with Jan wanting the Christmas tree out of the house immediately after the holiday is over, and, of course,her obviously damaged psyche re trying to ” start over”.
I am new to this strip… just been reading it for a year… so, maybe the widow and bording house idea worked when it first took form (who knows, it might even have originally been intended to be se in the 50;s)… maybe Mr Deering feels that being walked out on has more value and punch these days… you can get more mileage and commentary out of it than the widow and graveyard thing… hey, some comic strips do change… not all of em are Family Circus…
I don’t think it is about which is worse… it is about which is more relevant… sadly… being walked out on may have more resonance with more of the readers… it may be something they themselves have had a first hand experience with… widowed and left as a single mom in these times is fewer in number than being abandoned by their partner…
By the way… what happened to John Newcombe who used to share a credit on this strip? Is it just Deering’s strip now?
Bueller, thanks for the explanation of Jan’s single status. I love the quirky characters in this comic. The abandonment/death of Mr. Hill fits right in. Let’s hope Deering finds an eccentric partner for Jan.
Anyone want to guess on the state of Mr. Grumbine’s room after years with the door closed? Ugh.
This could be my family. He stayed for Christmas dinner than went to his girlfriend’s house and didn’t come home Boxing Day. The worst part (next to lying to the kids 15, 5 and 4) was that his mother was here for the holidays on a visit! I packed all his stuff into green garbage bags and dropped them off on her lawn. Needless to say he never came home again. Initially told the kids and his Mom that he was called out of town on business just to get through the holiday……
MatureCanadian, I feel for you-my father left my mother, me, and my brother for some woman with two kids…kind of hard for a six year old and a four year old to recover from that kind of betrayal…at least Zack doesn’t remember his father, so he doesn’t really miss him like I did at the time…
He may be my father, but I see my mother’s second husband as my dad, because HE was the one that was there for me when I was growing up, giving me the paternal figure I needed and the support to learn to stand up and be an adult. Jan needs to find someone like that to be a good role model for Zack!
Christmas used to be such a happy, merry time, as I remember from my childhood. Now it just seems to be a time for economic hardship and celebrations that have nothing to do with the reason for the holiday.
Sadly, the suicide rate peaks during this time.
Mature Canadian, you are mature. Destroying his things or any of the other things some people do would have merely brought you down to his level. Always remember, “What goes around, comes around”. Karma may be slow but it always works.
I feel for her. While I left my ex (druggy, cheating, lying, manipulating sob) (he admitted to all of it) I have raised my son from 6month old on and understand a little of what your going through.
COWBOY7 almost 15 years ago
Aha! I knew there was more to this! What a jerk! You’re better off without him!
ejcapulet almost 15 years ago
Ouch!
bueller almost 15 years ago
Joe,
Jan Hill is a widow -not just a “grass widow”, either, as I believe you Yanks refer to it.
Sometime after walking out on Jan and Zack (ostensibly to get some egg nog) Jan’s husband died, making any sort of “reconciliation” storyline impossible later on.
Or , at least, improbable, although zombies are almost as popular as vampires right now….
I’m not kidding about the egg nog, either. That was an intentionally over-the-top detail that was included in a series of Christmas strips from about five years ago.
Other sidebars to all of this include storylines with Jan wanting the Christmas tree out of the house immediately after the holiday is over, and, of course,her obviously damaged psyche re trying to ” start over”.
Flintstoned almost 15 years ago
Now I hate the Holidays! p.s. I’ve always hated the holidays.
detour_jones almost 15 years ago
I am new to this strip… just been reading it for a year… so, maybe the widow and bording house idea worked when it first took form (who knows, it might even have originally been intended to be se in the 50;s)… maybe Mr Deering feels that being walked out on has more value and punch these days… you can get more mileage and commentary out of it than the widow and graveyard thing… hey, some comic strips do change… not all of em are Family Circus…
Yukoneric almost 15 years ago
Which is worse?
detour_jones almost 15 years ago
I don’t think it is about which is worse… it is about which is more relevant… sadly… being walked out on may have more resonance with more of the readers… it may be something they themselves have had a first hand experience with… widowed and left as a single mom in these times is fewer in number than being abandoned by their partner…
By the way… what happened to John Newcombe who used to share a credit on this strip? Is it just Deering’s strip now?
stopgap almost 15 years ago
Bueller, thanks for the explanation of Jan’s single status. I love the quirky characters in this comic. The abandonment/death of Mr. Hill fits right in. Let’s hope Deering finds an eccentric partner for Jan.
Anyone want to guess on the state of Mr. Grumbine’s room after years with the door closed? Ugh.
MatureCanadian almost 15 years ago
This could be my family. He stayed for Christmas dinner than went to his girlfriend’s house and didn’t come home Boxing Day. The worst part (next to lying to the kids 15, 5 and 4) was that his mother was here for the holidays on a visit! I packed all his stuff into green garbage bags and dropped them off on her lawn. Needless to say he never came home again. Initially told the kids and his Mom that he was called out of town on business just to get through the holiday……
starlena Premium Member almost 15 years ago
MatureCanadian, I feel for you-my father left my mother, me, and my brother for some woman with two kids…kind of hard for a six year old and a four year old to recover from that kind of betrayal…at least Zack doesn’t remember his father, so he doesn’t really miss him like I did at the time…
He may be my father, but I see my mother’s second husband as my dad, because HE was the one that was there for me when I was growing up, giving me the paternal figure I needed and the support to learn to stand up and be an adult. Jan needs to find someone like that to be a good role model for Zack!
Shikamoo Premium Member almost 15 years ago
@ Beuller Thank you for filling us in.
Templo S.U.D. almost 15 years ago
Maybe Jan’s “widow story” is like Benny López’s story to her son George.
craigwestlake almost 15 years ago
Christmas used to be such a happy, merry time, as I remember from my childhood. Now it just seems to be a time for economic hardship and celebrations that have nothing to do with the reason for the holiday. Sadly, the suicide rate peaks during this time.
Mature Canadian, you are mature. Destroying his things or any of the other things some people do would have merely brought you down to his level. Always remember, “What goes around, comes around”. Karma may be slow but it always works.
cynicTech almost 15 years ago
I feel for her. While I left my ex (druggy, cheating, lying, manipulating sob) (he admitted to all of it) I have raised my son from 6month old on and understand a little of what your going through.