For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for March 18, 2024

I agree. Me at 23 and me at 55 are two different people.

Rhetta and Michael have been dating for two years. They appear to be about to have a discussion that needs to happen, no matter how giant big Michael’s eyes are in the final panel.

I like the way Michael’s wide open eyes are showing in the rearview mirror! Nice way to show how surprised he is at both his friend’s decision and a question from Retta he obviously wasn’t ready for…

Well Rhetta wants to experience life but also wants a committed relationship at the same time to assure they’ll get married. She’s hinting at an engagement.

Look in the rear-view mirror for your answer, Rhetta!!

Don’t answer that, Michael. It’s a trap.

I think people should wait longer to get married. Live a little.

“Uhh. No.” …. “Bye bye Mike!”

Mike’s eyes in the mirror! And are those headlights coming at them?!

Love his eyes in the mirror

For reference, Mike will be 19 next month. I assume that Gordon, Tracey, and Rhetta are about the same age.

This trip is starting to move very quickly.

Married at 23; still married (to the same woman) at 81. 59 years this fall.

I feel that going out and marriage are very different subjects. Going out is about picking one person in a few dozen. Marriage is about picking the person they want to grow old with, no matter what. I was 21 when I met my wife; she had just turned 20. Our meeting was set up by my sister-in-law but for the first time ever I met somebody who lived in the same world as I did. Our 50th anniversary is coming up in July.

I am 65. Married at 39. I am glad I waited!

Self absorbed people….me .me .mee…. The result of a culture of narcisssm.

I want this, I want that.

No one says – How can we best serve each other and society by growing up more quickly and settling down to family life.

No one should get married until they have lived together for at least 3 years.

You have entered a minefield Michael. Choose your next words with extreme care.

No, Rhetta, the two of you are not getting married.

Did they ever show the matrimony of Michael’s parents? It probably went something like this?

April asks about how her parents met

John: We did not have a lot of money back then, so I found us a quaint chapel just across provincial borders.

Sign: Shotgun Pete’s Wedding Chapel.

I got married at 21. I’m 45, we’re still married.

My wife and I got married at 21. When I looked at our three sons when they were each 21, I thought, “What were we thinking?”

Nevertheless, we’re still very much in love and about to celebrate our 40th anniversary.

The real life Michael, Aaron Johnston, had problems getting a girlfriend. He noticed a pattern with many girls. Girls tended to show no interest in any of his attempts to build rapport with them while these chicks were certainly interested finding their way into Lynn Johnston’s deep pockets.

oh, oh… be careful how you answer that one, Mike…

You beat me to it. My reaction was “only two?” → Probably 4 for me at 71.

<<< " Me at 23 and me at 55 are two different people. " >>>Is the new you what your wife worked to change you into? Wives are weird that way. Fall in love with a guy the way he is, marry him and immediately start working on him to change into something he never was.

RHETTA—-“Omigod,I’m running at t he rear of the pack! Is that good or bad?”

No, you won’t. Michael never thinks of you when you’re not right in front of him. Just break up already, you serve no purpose in the story.

I was 26 and Husband was 25 when we got hitched – I think we got married at the right time, but even only six years on, I look back sometimes and think “OMG, who were those CHILDREN that got married??” To be fair, we’re also about to have our second child, and the kids definitely change things.

I waited until I was 28 to get married, took trips with friends abroad. Been married 35 years now.

I got married at 23 Way too young

Yeah, but not to each other

Maybe get your own car also!!

Run Michael, run fast, run far !!! Ha! Happy Monday folks ;-)

We got married when I was just 17. She was a bit older. This year it will be 50 years. I guess I made a good choice…or she did.

I was married to my first wife 48 years, (she passed away) she was a widow with 3 children when we got married. My second wife and I are married 10 years (her husband passed away) and I am not sorry I married either of my spouses. Marriage is a commitment and any marriage has it’s bad and good days. We have lots of grandchildren and great grandchildren. What more can you ask for?

No. Haven’t you been listening to anything I’ve been saying, Rhetta?

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.

Just like a deer in the headlights

RED ALERT!! RED ALERT!! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!

It’s overrated. Stay single. ;)

A far cry from the Michael who was showing off Rhetta at the graduation dance in June of last year.

I love telling this story. My wife’s grandparents were married when Nana was 14 and Papa was 17. They had to run away to Hagerstown, MD to get hitched (PA thought they were too young.). Of course, they got the “they’re too young, it’ll never last” bit. They surprised everyone; 60 years until Papa passed first. I would honestly say that Nana died later of a broken heart. Papa was a wonderful man, but you DID NOT want to play poker with him! He supported his family through the Great Depression more than once at the poker table! And, I never saw eyes as intense as his. They would cut granite!