home: Browse The Strips

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Lynn's Comments: We had no smoke detectors when I did this strip, but it was fun putting all those letters across the top of the page. I think by the end of the 1980s most folks had detectors, and those who didn't felt pretty foolish.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Lynn's Comments: I made good use of my own childhood experiences, and one of the things that plagued families of the 1950s was the need for parents to be right. It was, "Do as I say, not as I do," which never made a heck of a lot of sense to me. If Dad swore, swearing was cool. If Mom smoked, smoking was cool too. If what they told us didn't add up, we were quick to object, but the folks were always right--no matter how wrong they were. This was a hard facade to maintain. When I had kids of my own, I discovered that it was much easier to admit to a mistake than try and justify it.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Lynn's Comments: Our folks didn't suddenly wake up and discover our deeds that New Year's morning. Dad went to use the bathroom and found Alan doubled over the biff (from smoking the cigar), and me in the tub smiling stupidly. As I recall, neither of our folks was angry with us for trying out contraband; they were mad at themselves for leaving it there. We all considered it a lesson learned.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Lynn's Comments: My mom worked with her father doing the hand lettering in and around the stamps in his priceless albums. He was an expert on forgeries, and this fine work required them both to use of a variety of magnifying glasses. We kids were not allowed to touch them, but this made them all the more fascinating.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Lynn's Comments: Living in a cold climate means having the kids indoors. I swore that television would not be my babysitter, that my offspring would have wholesome, educational, and creative pastimes. I encouraged them to read, draw, build things out of wood, clay, and paper. I bought board games--we played Scrabble, Monopoly, and Crazy Eights. I let them take apart the vacuum cleaner and roll marbles down the hose. I did everything I could think of to keep them entertained, and they, in turn, participated--as long as I played with them. The plan disintegrated if I decided to leave them and do something else, which is when they begged for television. So, I caved. I gave in. I set them up with food and water and turned on cartoons. I was able to work, clean, do laundry, and get stuff done, while my children bathed in the glow of the tube. I felt guilty, but at the same time --anything that saves a mom's sanity deserves a place in the home.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Lynn's Comments: One of the reasons FBorFW wasn't translated into many other languages was my constant use of colloquial expressions. When the imagined dialogue included something like "end of his rope," I had to use it!

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Lynn's Comments: Sheep dogs have big, wide feet, and their toes are webbed to some extent. This means that a snowy walk will result in wads of frozen snow plugging the dog's foot pads. I'd have to spread his toes and pull each chunk of snow out of the crevices--and with it, remove hair and dirt as well. It's a messy process, and the only rewarding thing about it is the look of relief on the dog's face when it's done!

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Lynn's Comments: Recently at a friend's house, my son picked up an old trumpet--and could actually play! I was surprised he remembered something from the lessons he took so long ago, and he was surprised as well. Guess he didn't hate practicing as much as he said he did.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Lynn's Comments: When I drew this strip, I weighed 130 lbs. I was in the best physical shape I'd ever been and I still felt chubby. Like most women, I was down on myself for not being shaped like the girls on the covers of magazines! No matter how hard I exercised or how much weight I lost, I'd never be able to achieve that model shape. The "ideal" was never going to be me.

I have been going through old photographs lately looking for things to put in our latest treasury book and I came across a rare photo of yours-truly in a bathing suit. The first thing I said to myself was, "Wow! I didn't look so bad after all!" Strange how your perception of self can change over the years.

And, no --you can't see the photo!

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Lynn's Comments: I was always happy to look after a kid for a friend, and enjoyed the reciprocal kindness. When you both have a childproofed house and all the necessary paraphernalia, one more kid hardly makes a difference.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Lynn's Comments: I did these strips after agreeing to look after a friend's two-year-old. Both my kids were in school, and my home was no longer baby-proof. I had forgotten how to feed, carry, talk to, and otherwise live with a toddler and was right out of my element. To add to this, my charge was the spawn of "New Age" parents who felt that discipline curbed a child's natural curiosity. In other words, the kid was a terror. His mother arrived before I called and begged for mercy. Thankfully, she never asked again!

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Lynn's Comments: Katie loved to play on the lazy Susan where I kept all my canned goods. As long as I could hear the rumble of the sturdily built shelves turning, I knew she was safe and not getting into trouble--so I thought. As she rode around one day, she amused herself by removing all the labels from the cans. We had mystery meals for months afterwards!

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Lynn's Comments: We got Farley as a puppy in the fall. The first snow was so much fun. Like any baby, he was thrilled to play in it and would bounce into a snowdrift--right up to his ears. The ravine behind our house was quite steep, and in winter, we had no choice but to slide down if we wanted to walk along the creek at the bottom. Farley watched my husband and me slide down the hill on our toboggan, and with a little coaxing, he stepped forward, sat down, and slid all the way down, too. It was so funny, we laughed till we cried. All that winter, he would slide down the hill. We photographed him and made our friends watch. Summer came, and the following winter, we thought Farley would carry on sliding. He didn't. He had no interest at all in getting his seat wet and clogged with snow. I can't say that I blame him. We, at least, had protection! I guess it goes to show you that even dogs grow up and become sensible.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Lynn's Comments: As a new mother, with no one close by to advise me, there were times that I truly believed my son was"out to get me!" When you do everything possible to stop a baby from crying and they still go on and on and on, it's easy for a novice to think a baby does things like this on purpose. I came very close to shaking him one night and called my social worker the next day for help. I can see why some parents just can't cope--especially if they're on their own.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Lynn's Comments: When I got together with other young moms, we talked a lot about coping. We reasoned that the nine month gestation plus the difficulty in delivering a baby made the kid that much more "valuable," and therefore worth the added suffering afterwards. Frustrations were all forgotten, of course, when we looked at the faces of our clean, healthy, and sleeping offspring.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Lynn's Comments: Once my kids were toilet trained and could eat with cutlery, it was amazing how quickly I forgot everything I had learned about newborns and toddlers!

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Lynn's Comments: This strip made me laugh today. How funny it seems to have worried about looking older then. Right now, I'd give my left eye bag for a smooth neck and a waistline!