Pickles by Brian Crane for December 21, 2024

Why?? Some of my best Christmases have been spent by myself, away from the forced jollity and gift giving and other nonsense, reading a good book and enjoying the peace and quiet.

Earl won’t care so long as he’s got something ro eat.

That will be a holiday for Earl.

He replies on homemade food?

Yes, Sylvia, take her with you —

it can be your gift to your father

Not all by yourselves. You still have Roscoe and Muffin.

Mrs. Claus must look forward to Christmas Eve with her old man out of the house, making his deliveries.

I think I already know but, who is Dan & why have we not seen him before?

I don’t think she means that! She loves Earl!

With my family, I have always only asked for Christmas Eve with me. We have a huge buffet and exchange gifts and it’s always a rollicking good time. Then they go wherever they want on Christmas Day. All I want is Christmas Eve together. It has worked out well for many years.

I can’t recall what Dan looks like.

And ruin Dan’s family Christmas… no way!!!!

Xmas for me is a quiet and peaceful affair, thinking of absent friends.

What about your sister Pearl? Can’t you spend the day with her?

As a side note: we always asked the family for Thanksgiving. Every other holiday they could spend somewhere else as long as we all got together on Thanksgiving. That worked for quite a few years, until the grandkids started having kids and we ran out of room. Now we have family picnics with plenty of room outside.

We always used to go to my family on Christmas Eve, and her’s on Christmas Day. Now it’s only her sister’s on Christmas Day.

What about Nelson, Opal?

Opal can’t let go….besides, being alone with Earl drives her nuts

Earl will be dancing around in his boxers

Quiet holiday season here, after all the playing for church services and concerts is done. This is the first since my husband passed, and no other family is close (in either sense). I’m planning to cuddle up with the cats.

We love our family and our frequent family get-togethers – for whatever excuse – are always filled with love, laughter, and lots of music.

However, my wife and I cherish those times when it’s just the two of us celebrating. We are looking forward to spending Christmas and New Year’s by ourselves this year.

It doesn’t seem like taking Opal would add any joy to ANY occasion.

A great gift for Earl! Time away from his mean wife.

This one would fit better on the Lockhorns

Opals expression in the first panel makes me really, really sad.

We wound up splitting it up between Thanksgiving and Christmas … that way, no one got a break, except our dogs, of course.

Haven’t seen Dan in quite some time - trouble there?

“Take My Wife!” Please.

WIN – WIN

Every year when the kids were young, we’d go to my in-laws place for Christmas. Finally, the kids asked if we could stay home and actually enjoy OUR time together with OUR gifts. We agreed, as Christmas should be for the children to enjoy.

Is Dan the younger woman’s husband? When was the last time we saw him in this strip?

What about Muffin and Roscoe? Whom do they spend Christmas with?

The problem is one of our own (society’s) making. Most holidays , including Thanksgiving & Christmas, are just days on a calendar and can easily be celebrated any other day. We are told and have become conditioned to celebrating on a certain day because everyone else does, but it’s not necessary. Do whatever works best for you and your family.

Christmas with the missus for me, Heaven:)

It doesn’t have to be one or the other. Either they all get together or the spend Christmas Eve with one side and Christmas Day with the other.

Did you not learn anything from watching the Griswold family christmas? (I just watched National Lampoon Christmas Vacation)