Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for January 09, 2015

Parting is such [sour] sorrow.

Well, Gunther, at least you tried… ;)

Second verse, same as the first….

I am guessing right about now, Gunther’s heart is breaking…

Rosa! What will you be doing once the cold winds of winter blow and the snow is flying through the air?! Perhaps you’ll get lucky and a native woman will be willing to teach you how to weave local patterns? ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql8zSQ71NW0

Sometimes, love just ain’t enough.

“Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” (♫)“The Answer To Your Own Question” “I Will Always Love…You…” (♫)“And I I Ran So Far From Peru …”(♫)“Home Is Where The Heart Ain’t”“Everytime You Go… Away…” (♫)“This Is Your Stop”“Two Of One, Minus One”“In My Life” (♫)“The Longest Trip Home”or“A Not So Rosa Picture”

Sounds like Rosa won’t miss Gunther much. Not much of a relationship after all.

Sure is!!!

Don’t tease us anymore. Get to the part where you kissed her goodbye!

Good bye to the Dragon Lady. You were always second, Gunther. Rosa is a nice girl, but a Dragon Lady, none the less, because she used your feelings for her to distort your own life. It would have gotten even worse.

Oh Lawdy Lawdy, is that violins I hear?

And it’s sad when you know, it’s your heart you can’t trust. There’s a reason why people don’t stay who they are, baby sometimes, love just ain’t enough…

“If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?….." (♫)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qH4qyi1-Ys

What hurts the most…is being so close…and watchin’ you walk away…

“Bye bye babe… it’s been sweet, loveThough this feeling I can’t change….” (♫)

Actually there was a strip which showed Gunther had all the right tools…he was it seemed the catalist that made the uncles clinic or what ever it was run smooth…all were yelling for his help both technical and other things..Possible Uncle will miss him the most..Gunther is going to be just fine…Rosa being a very bright young lady, didn’t she get accepted at a prestigous school, might find that she could accomplish more if she went on to school and qualified for real skills, thinking medical , whether Doctor or Nursing , able to do real good instead of just the basic help that she is qualified for now..just a thought.

Time to sign off for the night! Have to go find IS Katie and hit the hay!!! ’Nite all! ;)-————————————————————————“And now in age I bud again, After so many deaths I live and write; I once more smell the dew and rain, And relish versing: O, my only Light, It cannot beThat I am he On whom Thy tempests fell all night.”(George Herbert, 1593-1633)

@ “JPW” and “L2R”:

Spot on with those ones!!!!

I line up pretty close to Nathan on this one. Seems to me that Gunther landed on his feet in the downtown clinic, found a way to contribute and actually made himself useful to the folks there. He’s now the first to realize that he’s making a far less useful contribution in the mountains.

Rosa is being true to her ideals, but hasn’t yet figured out that she’s squandering her potential to do unskilled work that any peon could be doing, rather than completing her education to come back as a doctor, engineer, teacher or whatever. Kind of like “The Little Drummer Boy”: good intentions and an incredibly stupid plan.

I see no villains in this scenario. I don’t think Rosa tricked Gunther into coming, he chose to and she was delighted, but her choice wasn’t dependent on his. Oh, well.

He’s back, she’s off with Zane, Elwood, Mrs. Horner and Aaron Hill. We’ve been treated to an abortive look at a bunch of fresh new characters with intriguing quirks and back stories that didn’t go anywhere. Now, things are settling down to the new normal, which is starting to look a lot like the old normal.

I expect in the future, Gunther is going to get involved with another girl (Bernice, maybe???)…then suddenly, Rosa will show up and want to start up the relationship again. Wait for it ;-)

Rosa will be okay. She will either find some mountain dweller that will give her about half a dozen babies or live a nuns lifestyle. And I doubt any makeup or cosmetics will be arriving on the van so her beauty will fade – but not her smile. Relationships require compromise. She is a no compromise gal.

Everybody remembers the question “If you were stranded on a deserted island, who would you like to be with?” Guess Rosa doesn’t measure up.

The trip may have be worth it in the long run, Gunther.

“Life”. If you don’t like it, tell me how well the alternatives worked for you.

Tomorrow Gunther discovers ayahuasca.

Ohhhhhhhhh, Very “NICE.” So “SHE” Knew All Along That THIS Wasn’t the G-Man’s Life, But “SHE” Strings Him Along ANYWAY to Play “Pick-Up Sticks” in Peru, Because THAT’S What “SHE” Wanted to Do.

BAH!!FORGET what Your “Heart Tells You” And DO What Your HEAD Is Telling You Which Hop in the Van and See What That “Baby Can Do” and DRIVE Like HECK Back to the Good Old USA!

Besides, Gunth You’re a Nice Guy. I’m SURE You can find Plenty of ladies HERE, Who’ll Gladly Rip Your Heart Out and STOMP It FLAT On the Sidewalk Without Making You Go Partway Round the World First, So Buck-Up!

Me? I’m Gonna DUCK…..,

next week it continues, we have not gotten any “grow beard, lose old shirts” explanation ………………….. and last panel shows Gunther was not willing to “I am going to your uncle’s clinic and wait for your long time to expire” and visit Rosa once in a while

@flowerladytooPerhaps that’s what going to happen in the future, but that depends on Evans.

He’s better off without her.

Now he can go home where he and his Mom can hold each other back for the next 40 years.

I knew this would happen once Rosa and Gunther left for Peru but I am still disappointed in her. However, I am impressed with Gunther’s growth, as it is. He took a chance and followed his heart. Things did not turn out like he had hoped but he is stronger because of this.

It’s hard to tell which one of them is truthfully singing ♫♪ “If you love somebody… Set them Free…” ♪♫ I suspect Gunther truly means it. Perhaps Rosa does as well, but I think it’s also clear that her volunteer work is the greater priority in her life. And that’s OK… I just wish that would have been more clear up front such that Gunther could have made a more informed decision about accompanying her to Peru. Turns out it worked out anyway… it seems to have helped him break free of his prior existence… A very good thing.

Now, hopefully, next week we’ll learn how Gunther transformed on his way home. And I hope the transformation sticks….

They just got out of High School, for Pete’s sake!! Maybe it is not the right time or right person for either of them to settle down with? Neither knew what would happen when they got there. Sometimes you are in the right place with the wrong person. Sometimes it is the wrong place and right person, etc. You have to keep trying to find the right combination. At least Rosa has found her place. Gunther is still looking. At least she got him to expand his “box”. It looks like he went back home, but I bet his comfort zone is a bit bigger than it used to be.

It’s.About.TIME!

Rosa had better hope that the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) doesn’t get busy again in the region that she is staying in.

there is a chance that Gunther came back to the USA “many days ago”, he just did not tell them “come pick me up” until December 31st

This is a sad storyline. What is not being addressed is Rosa’s misplaced ideals. She had a chance to go to college to become a doctor. As it is she is just a compassionate, though immature and selfish, pair of hands. Nice but not as useful to the poor as a trained physician. I would hope that the clinic doctor would point that out to her and convince her to return home for training then come back. Doctors Without Borders are heroes. Rosa could be one.

So it was Rosa’s idea for Gunther to return. That doesn’t surprise me — Gunther is the kind of person who would follow her anywhere rather than break up, and it’s good that Rosa eventually started considering his happiness. I assume she was hoping his interest would catch fire once he actually got to the remote clinic. I still think it’s a shame she didn’t take advantage of her scholarship and get medical training before going to Peru. From what Gunther said a couple of days ago (“With no medical training, we just did basic jobs”), it doesn’t seem like she’s getting any real on the job training either.

(With apologies to Mary McGregor)

There are times when a woman has to say what’s on her mindEven though she knows how much it’s gonna hurtBefore I say another word let me tell you I love youLet me hold you close and say these words as gently as I can.There’s been another man LIFE that I’ve needed and I’ve loved I LOVEBut that doesn’t mean I love you lessAnd he IT knows you can’t possess me and he IT knows he ALWAYS willThere’s just this empty place inside of me that only he IT can fill.CHORUSTorn between two lovers, feelin’ like a foolLovin’ both of you is breakin’ all the rulesTorn between two lovers, feelin’ like a foolLovin’ you both is breakin’ all the rules.You mustn’t think you’ve failed me just because there’s someone SOMETHIBG elseYou were the first real love I ever hadAnd all the things I ever said, I swear they still are trueFor no one else can have the part of me I gave to you.CHORUS.I couldn’t really blame you if you turned and walked away WE BOTH KNOWBut with everything I feel inside, I’m asking you to stay GO.CHORUS.Torn between two loversFADEFeelin’ like a foolLovin’ both of you is breakin’ all the rules

She’d rather pick up sticks that get an education. Yeah, she sounds real smart!

That’s the way it sometimes is.

Sorry Gunther but it just wasn’t meant to be.

We still haven’t reached the point where Gunthie changes from wearing plaid to wearing polo.*That might be a turning point.

“Get a grip people.”.But, but, but it’s Rosa and Gunther!.Folks do sometimes get caught up in the lives of the ink people.(There are some extremely unstable people in the world who take comics to the extreme of killing in response to them. Thankfully most just stay on their keyboards and rant. Time to go back to my ranting.)

“Rosa has barely lived, and if this is what she thinks is right, how can it be squandered?”.Child of 16 dying on the road after a wreck, “I thought I had more time.”85 year-old dying in bed of whatever disease, “I thought I had more time.”.Live each day as if it might be your last and live each day as if you might be stuck with the consequences for a hundred years..Both are possible.

" “Well that’s just great, now I’m going to get fired for taking this spoiled brat to a village without her uncle’s permission. I could chloroform her to get her back, but then the nerdy kid will tattle. Think Luis, think!” ".Hmm, first gotta separate the two. Should be easy, take the boy home this first trip. Pick up the chloroform when I get back to the clinica.Return for Rosa.Si, that will work.“Come, Gunther, let us go.”

Gunther on a bender? What a concept…

why didn’t he just go back to Lima and work at the clinic he was needed there and he could have been closer to her. Then he could go and visit her every other weekend

> It’s interesting that when a man decides what his life work is and it takes him to far places, no one calls him selfish if he tells a woman who loves him that he’s going, and if she wants to be part of his life, she’s welcome to come.>Oh? What do they call him, in such an instance? Who, for instance?-In any case, this has certainly never happened in “Luann”. Quill never asked Luann to sacrifice any of her goals or ambitions, other than that of having a boyfriend at her beck and call during her every waking hour. However Gunther, in order to remain Rosa’s boyfriend, has had to give up his plans for his freshman year at college.

Let’s not forget that these kids are still in there teens. I was a bit like Gunther in that I was the shy type with girls and didn’t really have a girlfriend until my senior year. I was NOT a “player” but still went through a slew of girlfriends until I got married at 25. Each relationship made me grow up a little bit, and my heart was broken as well as I broke some hearts also. It’s part of growing up these days. I’m sure Evans kinda went through the same and has plans for Gunth.

Como tu quieres.

http://www.gocomics.com/comic/explore/1103726/57

so far in these flashbacks Gunther still looks like his former self (plaid shirt buttoned up to the throat; short hair, clean shaven face). We can only assume that what transformed him physically has yet to come.

What if a little later on, Rosa comes home pregnant? One more chance for Gunther to be a hero – or a sucker…

So there to all of those who said nasty things about Gunther. This is a kids comic not a soap opera!

There is still a time gap to be dealt with. Gunter didn’t grow that beard overnight. And Rosa? What of sweet little Rosa? Will she reappear a year or so down the line to rock Gunther’s boat? Will she, reappear with 2 or 3 little ones in tow, a creepy husband, and 50 pounds heavier? Naw, Greg wouldn’t be that mean. Whatever, The Ballad of Gunther and Rosa has been an interesting story line.

I agree that Rosa is not living up to her potential. Gunther isn’t either, yearning to return to his closet. Gunther’s mother needs to take a long hard look at the recluse she has raised, then put her foot down and kick Gunther out of the nest and start living a life of her own. Otherwise, Gunther’s mother will be stuck with enabling Gunther for the rest of her life.

Hopefully this experience will give Gunth a new personality: Depressive Beatnik Man. "Like, all chicks do is try to change you, man. It’s a bummer. I’m gonna go read some of my poems to the kids in the library. Which homemade black turtleneck should I wear,

Ballads? You Want Ballads, Brdy??_____________________________________

“Well The First Thing You Know, Rosa Gave old Gunth the Air!”“The Pea-sants Said, Gunth MOVE Away from Here!”“They Said North America’s the Place You WANT to Be!”“So He Ripped-Off the Van, and Then Began to Fleeeeeeee!”“ESCAPE that Is! Key on the Key Board, Crappy Ford Eco-Cars!”(Sung to the Tune of the Beverly Hill Hillbillys. Donna Douglas RIP)

82. Elly May Clampett..And, yeah I was surprised by about 20 of those years. September 1932 – January 1, 2015 1962-1971

I too am wondering if that is it, since his new look didn’t seem to come as a result of life in the mountains. Usually a thread like this lasts for a week and we only have one day to go to see how Gunth gets physically transformed… unless these flashbacks extend into next week

or maybe changing himself visually was a deliberate effort, a metaphor , for making this break in his emotional life and moving on to a new hopes and directions.

Maybe Gunther’s been in jail in Lima for the last month, and he picked up the sweatshirt at the airport as he was being deported.

maybe in that 6 hr drive back to Lima talking to the local guy (the van driver), they had meaningful conversation. and maybe the van driver helps Gunth to see that life is short and that one needs to embrace change, move on, .and not spend too much time looking back.

Yep, math is too hard for many.The machines can’t replace us a moment too soon.

It is likely that there is uncertainty about the year of her birth. Actresses often fib about their birth date, to claim to be a year or two younger than they really are (e.g., Nancy Reagan).

“Funny thing is, everywhere I have checked (out of curiosity), shows the birth date I posted above.”.Could be, don’t know where you checked.I only checked with IMDB and my buddy, Wiki, both of whom gave the birth year as 1932.

" “Her real name was Donna Douglas, but to millions she was Elly May.” ".Born with one name, changed it.It is allowed.If she called herself ZIyrefjgry,I would accept that as her name.(I might not try to pronounce it, but that’s a separate matter.).

They’re usually accurate.

.Hmm, went to their site, couldn’t find Donna Douglas mentioned.Have they no sense of priorities????Now I gotta read their article about Kenyans using stolen transformer fluid for cooking oil.As Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “I’ll be Bach.”(Why not Beethoven?)

I listened to Dr. Demento, too.

Yep, sho’ nuf, PCBs. I remember when we swapped them out in the late seventies.

OK.. this is it. The van driver and Gunth stop at a bar in some little town on the way back to Lima…and they get drunk and the van driver says..“you want to catch the senoritas?…I geeve you a leetle advice….. on how to be a gaucho man… you grow a beard…. drink strong coffee…”

Gunther returns to Lima, where Uncle Leo has fired him for running off from the job unannounced. Having no support, he can no longer stay in the hotel, so he becomes a homeless person in Lima, eating at the soup kitchens that Rosa didn’t think worthy of her service. Finally he scraps up enough money for a plane ticket home, and since he has been forced to live with only the clothes on his back, he buys a sweatshirt in the airport before flying home (throwing away the plaid short he has worn every hour for the last month and a half).

You were a pipe smoker?

" Rosa went out of her way NOT to do that in fact. She did NOT tell Gunther what to do, leaving it to HIS decision." ^Exactly!

Dr. Demento does a podcast, now. He is on “Drdemento.com”…..

That made me sad. I know they are just kids but… That made me sad.

Come on! Finish the ballad! How did Gunther meet his end?