Elly: Browse The Strips

Sunday January 28, 2018

Lynn's Comments: I was about seven and my brother was five. We had been having one of our knock-down, drag out fights. Mom was in the basement and either ignored us or couldn't hear just how angry the fight had become.

Our one bathroom, which had a locking door, became a refuge. If you could get in there first, you were safe. You had to slam the door to get it to lock. I ran into the bathroom, slammed the door and Alan screamed. Thinking he was just screaming with rage, I continued to shove the door shut not knowing that his finger had been caught in the door jamb. By the time I realized there was something wrong, I had seriously injured his finger. Mom rushed us to the hospital where he was given a shot and had his finger bound with gauze. It wasn't broken, but his knuckle was severely bruised and the skin had split with the pressure. I was so sorry. Even though Alan accepted my apology, I've never forgotten the incident and I have never forgiven myself!

Friday February 2, 2018

Lynn's Comments: My brother and I were expert teases. We savoured every "gotcha" and every "Aaaughh!!!!" We added them up, we made sure we were even. I don't think we stopped until we were in our twenties!

Sunday February 4, 2018

Lynn's Comments: This really happened, but it was me who waited in the snow for the garbage truck. It took awhile to realize I was out there on the wrong day!

Tuesday February 6, 2018

Lynn's Comments: After all the care we put into choosing their food, a dog usually prefers garbage. A garbage-flavoured kibble might be something to consider.

Sunday March 4, 2018

Lynn's Comments: To this day, I can’t resist "boinging" the little springy thing that keeps a door from hitting the wall. Writing the sound effects here was so much fun!

Thursday March 8, 2018

Lynn's Comments: I remember telling my mother a lie like this and it got too big to handle. The truth, though painful, is always easiest in the long run!

Tuesday March 13, 2018

Lynn's Comments: This story was used, I was told, as an example for kids at home and in kindergarten of how a lie can get out of hand. As a parent, I was "lecturing children" from my basement drawing table!

Monday March 19, 2018

Lynn's Comments: My mom was a stickler when it came to good manners. "Please," "thank you" and "pardon me" were drilled into us. We had eating lessons. She made us sit with a Golden Book under each arm so we could learn to eat without raising our elbows. There was a litany of rules: "Chew with your mouth shut! Don't pick your teeth in public! Don't blow your nose on the napkins! When you're finished, put your knife and fork together (like a clock’s hands) at seven thirty five!" Use of the knife and fork was carefully monitored. If we slouched at the table, mom would put a yardstick down our backs. This was strict and somewhat crazy, but my brother and I learned how to eat with good manners and it’s been a valuable skill, which has lasted us all our lives!

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Lynn's Comments: People were always telling me I should "cut Elly’s hair". This would have taken away a very recognizable feature of the character, so the best I could do was to bunch it up or tie it back. This strip gave me the opportunity to address the readers’ observation.

Wednesday March 21, 2018

Lynn's Comments: In a TV sit-com, you can get away with changing a character with a haircut or a hair colour because the character is a real person. In a comic strip, the art often reflects an artist’s style to the point where hair, posture, and even clothing are used to clearly identify the character. Charles Schulz once told me, "If it wasn't for hair and clothing, all my characters would look alike!" He drew them all in his own unique style.

Thursday March 22, 2018

Lynn's Comments: This is true. There was a coffee house on Davie Street in Vancouver where I tried to be a folk singer! Many of us did. In the 60s, music and entertainment were everywhere. If you could sing and strum a guitar, there was always a place where you could play—for free. One night at The Bunkhouse, I opened for Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. I was awful and they were very kind. My career, thankfully, went in another direction!