For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for May 28, 2015

Way to be supportive there, John…

Send him to the sofa tonight, Elly.

And he never knew what hit him.

Oh he needs to be slapped and made to sleep on the couch. Ouch!!

No sugar tonight, John.

Out of curiosity where are all of “how the duck”‘s comments? When I go to Alex’s page it shows his last post from 5 months ago. There is nothing on Duck’s http://www.gocomics.com/profiles/260606

He never loses an opportunity for a put-down. Source of her “anger issues?”

John always knows what not to say.Poor Elly. John is trying to be supportive with a joke, but that’s not what she needs.

One evening my husband, a friend, and I went to the “Moving Wall”. I had written a poem that I just wanted to leave at the wall. I didn’t know what the protocol was, so I asked one of the people in charge. They read the poem, then grabbed me and brought me to a gazebo where there was a loudspeaker. Someone was reading off the names…one by one. They interrupted the reading and asked me to read my poem. It was the first time someone had asked me to read one of my poems in public. When I finished, I joined up with my husband & friend (they couldn’t figure out where I was until they heard my voice over the loudspeaker)…when a large group of bikers approached me. Each of them, with tears in their eyes, either hugged me or just touched my shoulder. It was one of the oddest experiences of my life.

We all have, John. We just don’t want to be reminded of it.

Lynn’s Notes:

When I first started to do public speaking I was so scared, I was physically ill. But I wanted to learn, so I accepted all kinds of invitations and I did my talks for free. I got to feel confident and decided to ask for an honorarium but I had no idea how much to ask for. I did talks for charity and talks for the price of the airfare and a hotel. Eventually, when I was happy with my presentations, well compensated, and able to enjoy the sight of a huge audience…I didn’t want to do it any more!

As he often does!

This reminds me of Pegasus Buchanan (pen name) who wrote the most clever, touching and insightful short poems about her life experiences back in the 1960’s. She was pubished in Sat Eve Post and some major women’s magazines and published a few theme books. Then she seemed to disappear and today, I can’t find that she has any websites of her collections. It’s a shame, really, she spoke for millions of us back in the days before we were “liberated.”

Rehearse, Elly. Rehearse. Read them out loud in the privacy of your own home until you’re completely familiar with them. I wish somebody had told me that when I was in 7th grade taking a class called Oral English.

Panel four – great expression on Elly’s face…. cuts to the quick of the story.

Wear “Depends”?:-P

I’m sure we’ve all made fools of ourselves sometimes in our lives. Boy, did I hate public speaking class.

Damned nasty comment, John.