Amanda the Great by Amanda El-Dweek for December 30, 2023

With any luck, he’ll be wise and train to enter one of the trades.

My sons: one became an aircraft mechanic, the other a double ticketed welder/steel fabricator, in the Boilermaker’s union. They’ll do way better than Dad did with his Diploma of Technology.

I’m ~400km from both my and my partner’s families, and that usually feels about right.

Panel 3 is spot on though, kids go from not being able to talk to borrowing the car in about a week.

Isn’t this the truth. We went to a family reunion and while we mostly remembered hubs cousins, there was a crowd of youngish adults who were somewhere from infant to first graders when we last saw them. And many had kids of their own. It seems it really is a case of time speeds up the older you get.

What’s wrong with being idealistic? Go, your honor!

It is a royal PITA to cash in savings bonds, nowadays, Dan. But otherwise, yes, good idea. (Amanda’s snark is still spot on. :-) )

Bonds are great gifts, true, but come on, you have to get them a toy also – even when they’re teenagers!

It’s harder to stay close to family when we all live far apart, but it’s important. Yes, their kids are hard to keep up with, but their parents will bring us up in conversation more often. Eventually they will be our age and the cycle will continue.

Your shared thoughts, their depth, simply priceless, as always.

The kid will remember and favour you both. XOXO

My Grampa bought us savings bonds. They did help in my 20s and 30s when finances were really tight. One for $25 actually paid out $50 with all the extra interest!

Said the guy who in his youth went to “business camp”! True nonetheless.