Michael: Browse The Strips

Friday, May 3, 2013

Lynn's Comments: Aaron did learn to play a few pieces on the trumpet. Through perseverance and some threatening, his junior high school music teacher succeeded in placing him in the school band, where he suffered along with the rest of the uncommitted until summer came.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Lynn's Comments: Aaron balked at learning to read music and practicing, but he did love his rented trumpet. With my brother's guidance, he polished the bell, oiled the valves, and cleaned out the tube--which would otherwise fill with fungus, mould, and other odious flotsam (nourished by the moisture and foodstuff propelled by vigorous breath). The instrument itself was a beautiful possession, but it came with the guilt of not practicing.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Lynn's Comments: Sometimes my readers made some very astute but troublesome observations. When this strip appeared, a woman from Maryland wrote to say that the punch line didn't work because Elizabeth was not actually looking at the caterpillar. I explained that I needed to draw her face and also her dad's face, so I'd taken a bit of artistic license. Had I positioned her the way she should have been, the audience would just see the back of her head.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Lynn's Comments: The first panel in this strip was (and is) what I live for: Goofy expressions, exaggerated poses, and lettering that looks the way it sounds.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Lynn's Comments: I have always been interested in bugs and snakes and creepy-crawly things. The only thing I don't like to catch and examine in my hands are spiders, but they fascinate me just the same. When I was a kid, some of my insect "pets" succumbed to my examinations, and I would create small but elaborate burial ceremonies for them. When one of my garter snakes died, I buried him in a long, flat tie box, and gift wrapped him before I put him into the ground. It was the least I could do.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Lynn's Comments: This reminds me of a story. My friend Christa decided she wanted to learn the saxophone. So as not to disturb her husband one morning, she decided to practice on the back porch. We live in the country, so there were no neighbours to offend. She had just started to honk out some scales when her husband appeared in the doorway excited and out of breath. "Christa!" he cried. "Did you hear that? I think a moose has been hit on the highway!"

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Lynn's Comments: An expression like "play by ear" automatically becomes the basis for a play on words or a gag of some kind. When a punchline like this came to mind, I was elated. A line like this would make a whole week of strips worth drawing.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Lynn's Comments: Whenever I left my family on their own for dinner, I made sure there was a really good meal just waiting to be heated up. It was my way of showing how much I cared (and how guilty I felt as well). I kind of knew they'd take off to a fast food joint in my absence, which didn't hurt too much--it meant I didn't have to prepare a meal the next day!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Lynn's Comments: A yard sale gives you the incentive you need to dig out all the forgotten junk that the kids will want as soon as they see it. Kids don't get into the swing of a great purge until they see money coming in. Then they'll sell anything!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Lynn's Comments: The great Johnston yard sale was an epic event. Everyone in Lynn Lake knew that Ruth had squirreled away some fine stuff and looked forward to seeing what would be up for grabs. Tables had to be borrowed from the church next door. It took us two days to price everything and set it out on display. As luck would have it, the event took place on the day of the high school graduation. Students in their best duds crowded around the tables, trying to score a deal ahead of the old guys.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Lynn's Comments: When the dust cleared we did discover a few things gone that we wanted to keep--and one item had been stolen. Not bad for a day of chaos!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Lynn's Comments: Earlier in my career, when I was a single mom, I worked outside the home and Aaron went to daycare. Any time he was sick, it was miserable for both of us. I knew, it was irresponsible to send a kid out there to infect others, but I had to pay a mortgage and buy groceries, and a day off work meant a smaller pay cheque. If I had to stay home with him, I felt guilty for missing work--and mad at myself for feeling guilty. He, on the other hand, appreciated having me home--all to himself and caring for him.

Friday, May 31, 2013

Lynn's Comments: My brother and I fought a lot when we were kids, and Aaron and Kate did as well. When one kid is sick, however, the other's true colours blossom; any time Kate was ill, Aaron would be so concerned, I would almost have to keep him at home, too.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Lynn's Comments: This is such an old gag image, but I had to use it here. I actually showed Aaron how to squeeze our garden hose to stop the water flowing--so he could "surprise" someone. Naturally, I was his first surprisee!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Lynn's Comments: I had a good-sized wash tub in the backyard. It would take two of us to get him to the tub and then into it. Once he was in, he gave up the fight and put up with the scrubbing.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Lynn's Comments: Some of Aaron's friends did have keys to their houses, but again, the town was so small that we all looked out for each other. In general, the kids didn't get into too much trouble. Small towns are a relatively safe environment for kids--which is probably why they all say they can't wait to leave when they hit their teen years!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Lynn's Comments: After receiving a pretty rough scolding, I decided I was never going home. I was going to stay in the backyard and suffer. My dad put up a tent for me and brought me some hot soup in a thermos. It was autumn and I was about 7 years old. I didn't want his help, but I accepted a sleeping bag and an air mattress, and prepared to spend the rest of my life separated from those, who in my opinion, had treated me mean. Night fell. Dad brought me a book and a flashlight, and as I watched him go inside I felt, well... vulnerable. I tried to sleep, but the wind and sounds of the neighbourhood kept me awake. When it started to rain, I wished I had not been so definite in my decision. The tent wasn't waterproof and it definitely wasn't warm. I decided to sneak into the house, sleep in my bed until early next morning and then sneak outside again. Fortunately, Dad had left the door unlocked.

Next morning my bed was too comfortable to leave, so I slept in. Dad brought in the tent. Mom hung up the sleeping bag to dry and washed the thermos...and nobody said a word. Sometimes, you don't have to say anything to get a point across.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Lynn's Comments: We had owned a small aircraft ever since Aaron was 4 years old, so he was no stranger to flying. With floats in the summer and skis in the winter, our Cessna 185 was like a flying carpet--which could take us anywhere we wished to go. We all loved to fly, and even the bumpiest trips were fun.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Lynn's Comments: Aaron was eight years old when he decided that he'd like to go to Vancouver by himself and visit my mom and dad. We were surprised by his courage. Most kids his age would have been terrified of flying alone--and for such a long distance.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Lynn's Comments: This trip was quite an adventure for all of us. I preoccupied myself with organizing clothes and other things he had to take--which took my mind off losing him to the great world out there.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Lynn's Comments: My friends who were lucky enough to own a piano and get lessons often complained about the torture they suffered having to practice for recitals and such. Years later, with the stress of learning far behind them, they thanked their parents at long last for giving them the gift of music.