Thoughts of home

Since I arrived in the US 15 years ago, there have been two things which make me feel like I’m home again—hockey, and the comic strip, For Better or For Worse.  I was thrilled to find that I could watch Hockey Night in Canada on cable right here in Las Vegas, so on Saturday nights I relish the familiar accents, the outdoor shots of places I used to hang out (like Nathan Phillips Square), the commercials for Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, and Pizza, Pizza, and the general “hominess” of the show.  This is a nationally-televised show which takes the time out to recognize fans who may be in the hospital, soldiers who’ve been killed in Afghanistan, etc.—it’s like visiting with a close group of friends.

For Better or For Worse is a bit harder to explain, but it’s a comic strip which often mirrors life in my own family.  There are three kids, like in my family.  The only boy is named Michael, like in my family.  The oldest child is interested in writing and journalism, just like me, the oldest child as well.  The mother in the strip started to work in a gift shop after the kids left home, just like my mom did.  The oldest daughter moved far away from home to tackle her own adventures (like me), the youngest child wants to be a vet (sound familiar?).  The strip takes place in Toronto and in northern Ontario, so I recognize places and street names and events I attended when I grew up.  The strip’s creator, Lynn Johnston, has had the characters in the comic grow older, tackle challenges, get married, and even die, so after reading it for over 25 years, it’s hard to imagine them not being around.  Unfortunately, it’s been announced that Lynn Johnston will “stop aging” the characters as of September 2007, although she’ll occasionally draw new strips.  It almost feels like a death in the family to think that I won’t be able to watch Michael’s kids grow up, to see what April decides to do for a living when she finishes school, and to find out if Liz will marry Paul or Anthony (although that storyline may get wrapped up before September).  It’s a comic strip that’s often funny, sometimes thoughtful, and occasionally melancholy, and I look forward to reading it every day.  I really will miss the characters when they’re gone.

On a similar (but non-Canadian) note, the creator of the comic strip Foxtrot will now only draw his strip on the weekends.  Foxtrot is a brilliant comic strip, featuring puns I often don’t understand, and it’s the only things I’ve ever seen which can make math and physics amusing.  I’ll miss it as well.  The creator of Pearls Before Swine better not even think of retiring for another twenty years.

I’ll close this entry with a bit of Canadiana.  “I got the teapot!” Just like in the Tim Hortons Christmas TV commercial, I got the mug and the teapot for Christmas, so life is complete!

Posted by Leigh-Ann on 12/30 at 10:55 PM

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

  1. I too have been a fan of Lynn Johnston and her comic strip for years.  This is the first I have heard that it is coming to an end.  How very sad.  I remember crying when their dog Farley died. 
    Gotta love all that is Tim Hortons. grin
    Happy New Year, Leigh-Ann.

    Posted by Simply Coll  on  12/31  at  05:45 PM

  2. Apparently Lynn Johnston’s retirement has been news to everyone but us since 2001!  It was then she announced she would retire when her current contract expires in 2007, and I guess she’s reiterated that.  I first read the news just a couple of days ago in the newsletter the creator of the Mutts comic strip sends out every month.  I then did a search online, and the news seems to be true.  I guess we’ll hear more about it as the date approaches.

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  01/01  at  02:17 AM

  3. We noticed the change in Foxtrot ourselves. It is sad that he’s retiring.

    But Lynn Johnston! No! No! NONONONON! For Better or For Worse is my favorite because she *does* age her characters. I always took it as a visual for her own life, her true life. I am so sad that she’s going to stop aging the characters.

    The Concord Monitor, the paper we subscribe to, announced they are eliminating some of the comics they carry and replacing them. The choices are: Mutts, Rhymes with Orange, Swine and Pearl, and someting about Einstein. We have to vote on them and I voted for all them...I just couldn’t decide.

    Posted by Nio  on  01/01  at  09:44 AM

  4. I loooooooove “Pearls Before Swine”—it’s odd and sarcastic and it makes us laugh almost every day.  I love “Mutts”, too, but for different reasons.  It’s not always funny, but it’s often thoughtful.

    Btw, the Foxtrot creator is still going to draw his weekend strip, so you’ll be able to read it in your Saturday or Sunday paper.  He just won’t be able to do storylines anymore.

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  01/01  at  04:08 PM

  5. A Canadian Moment to be sure!  (Like on Air Farce!)

    Posted by Ruth  on  01/04  at  04:46 AM

  6. I haven’t seen Air Farce in years, although I did receive an Air Farce cookbook in with my box of Christmas gifts from my parents smile

    Posted by Leigh-Ann  on  01/04  at  10:15 PM
    7. Page 1 of 1 pages

Name:

Email (required, but will not be made public):

Location:

URL:

Smileys

Remember my details for future comments?

Let me know about new replies to this topic?

What is the sum of 2 and 1?

Next entry: Last fiasco of the year

Previous entry: Invasion of the sock creatures, finally

<< Back to main