Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for August 31, 2016

sing it, Toni

He understood that a lot better than expected

Toni understands that the most important thing is the marriage and not the wedding ceremony, and she’s looking forward to the marriage. And that’s good news…

Then do it now! Don’t hesitate! I’ll even go on line, pay the $3 to become a ‘ordained minister’, and perform the ceremony myself! .And, when I say, “You may now kiss the bride”, I’ll just fold the last panel over in the middle so your lips can touch hers.

Maybe an elopement isn’t such a wild idea, after all…

Decisions still need to be made regardless of the size of the wedding.

Just listen to what you said, Brad – “bridal” decisions. Not “bridegroomal” decisions. So shut up, cancel the meeting with the wedding planner, and let Toni have the small wedding she’s been telling you for over a year that she really wants. Since you’ve never been exactly a ladies’ man, you wanted a big ceremony to prove to a doubting world that you could get a hottie to say “I do”, but you’ll just have to forego that bit of showing off. Let Toni call the shots, like the manly woman that you were telling TJ she is.

This is more flattering to Brad than some of us tended to give him credit for. I’m relieved, because I’ve wanted them to be together and do well. However, Toni will need to realize that the “becoming” is not over with just because they’re married. They have to negotiate their living situation with TJ, and after TJ, and after that. Marriage will provide them with a sense of “being”, but “becoming” continues.

I like this. And there’s no hurry. Take your time. You are two very lucky people.

hate that Greg might be sneaky, but I think in 12 days they elope (but they might do a November ceremony at the fuse )

i finally have figured out the elopement thing. You are all a bunch of incurable romantics!

If Toni hates chaos I hope she doesn’t have children.

If the roles were reversed, a lot of you would say the bride should be allowed to have her dream. You would be telling Brad to just say “Whatever you want Dear”.

Toni has exactly the right attitude. The marriage is what’s most important. The wedding day is only the beginning of something beautiful. More people should realize that.

If she cant handle this wedding she’s never going to handle becoming a mother. Not the same as being an aunt.

RIP to Willy Wonka and Dr. Frankenstein. (That’s Fronkensteen!)

And so for a safe, stable, and sane life without chaos, you became a firefighter? What am I missing here?

LuAnn & Friends, 2026: “Y’know, Brad, you’re not the man I married.”

Brad: “?”

Toni: “And every day, I’m thankful I dodged that bullet.”

Elope! (Reissued)

In most contemporary movies, the “Being” part would start in the next few seconds…

But this is a family comic strip.

@ Angrythree: I worked for a historic house this summer that did wedding ceremonies and receptions, bridal and baby showers, memorial lunches, meetings, class reunions etc. and yes they do have white chairs that can be decorated with colored satin or cloth sashes that match either the tablecloths or might be in the contrasting color that echo’s the bridal color scheme.. At any rate: who wants to make bets that Team Evens might have the couple elope on Sept 11th like they originally wanted ( remember the fire chief) can not give them time off @ that time… and then they can have a small family/ friends wedding and or reception plus the honeymoon in December. Funny that Tony can’t handle chaos but chose a profession that is anything but stable and predictable…. and is often filled with chaotic moments .

I’m betting this will culminate into the smallest wedding possible. Brad’s family and Shannon (with or without Jonah). Who knows? TJ is a man of many talents….maybe he is also licensed to perform a wedding ceremony? --on a personal note, with my second marriage, I had grandiose ideas of being married in a pair of skates on an ice rink (I’m a skater) or marrying on a beach….my husband to be was balking like Toni….I started thinking that I didn’t want to put him through all this and…yep. Ended up in the judge’s chambers with 4 family members joining us. You know what? It was absolutely fine.

They can keep it simple and avoid the big crowds and expenses altogether! I would.

I asked this question before but, where is the kid?

I’m sorry, Toni, what was that you said about not having anyone you can COUNT ON in your life? When I mentioned that a few days ago, I believe several people told me I didn’t know what I was talking about.

Elope, use the cost of the staged ceremony as a down payment on a house and you won’t have to live with whats-his-face.

If I had a daughter who was engaged, I’d get the boy aside and offer him a thousand bucks to run off to Reno with her, save myself 10,000 bucks.

I am proud of you Brad

Time to make it a simple registry office do with only immediate family and a few close friends…

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, there are two firm requirements for this wedding: Shannon must be a flower girl, and Luann must be a bridesmaid. (Brad’s and Toni’s roles are secondary.) Since this couple knows a total of fewer than a dozen people in the whole world, they can invite everyone they know to a ceremony at the Fuse, and it can fit into a single panel of the strip. Then, cut the wedding cake at Kafe Kablooie, so they can do the whole thing during their lunch hour and then get back to work.

There’s still 3 days left this week.A lot can happen in 3 days.

why don’t you elope then problem solved

Just elope. Spend the wedding money on buying a house.

I have a lot I could say, but I will say that this does not surprise me on either characters part. Toni loves Brad because of the care, concern, commiiment, and stability he brings to her, and he loves her for her commitment, her beauty, her sensitivity, her need for him, and her smartness. They will persevere. That is what people in love do. In terms of how they resolve the wedding plans, and Shannon, and TJ, whose heart is in the right place, and is a good guy, although some want to make him out an unreconstructed rogue, I will await the arcs to come.

Well I for One, Am GLAD That’s SETTLED!

Now Let’s Say You Two Love-Monkeys Get Started on the “Being”, Part!

STEP 1 – Get RID Of TJ…..,

“After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting.” Spock in the original star trek episode Amok Time

No flip cracks this morning. I do wish Brad was drawn better. There’s a disconnect in styles between he and Toni. It’s like two different artists are drawing these characters. Brad has that Gunther Stick Figure style. Toni is more realistic. Believable. Stand Gunther next to Pru. Same deal. Are we Stick People or are we real?

Brad’s got a nice profile. It’s a shame he looks like such a doofus full on.

It looks like Brad’s finally realized that Toni’s idea of a perfect wedding is: “I do—————Me too”, and we’re outta here.

they should elope and have a reception later with family and friends.

My wife and I had a very nice wedding with our friends and family and it cost us a whopping $150. 36 years later, we’re just as married as anybody else. Toni gets it, and Brad is getting there.

My wife and I got married in a small ceremony by a Justice of the Peace in my sister-in-law’s backyard. All the love, but without the headaches.

Let LuAnn ,her mom and Bernice plan the whole wedding for them!

Some people here evidently consider all this interesting..It is pretty much a rehash of past plots, Jonah is irresponsible,Toni dislikes all the planning, etc. Hashing over old stuff..All the many potential plots left hanging..Nothing interesting for a month. .I read Luann Againn with interest, not this.

Sigh…big happy smile. They’re so young and cute.

Also before the end of the summer, shouldn’t we see something of this day camp for kids that was supposed to be such an important part of Luann’s career development?

“Mutual Of Ohm’s Law”“Collective Resistance”“The Sigh Is Tied” (♬)“Iron Out The Hard Pressed”“The Effects Of Gravity On Two Worlds Getting Closer”“Shine A Little Light” (♬)“3 Minutes Past Oblivious”" Heart Of A Matter"“A Filly Needs Stable”“I’ve Got Sunshine, On A Cloudy Day” (♪)“Stay Safe”“On And On” (♬)

Or“Sane And Able”

I wrote:SukieCrandall GoComics PRO Member said, 4 minutes ago@BillH77And, gee, if someone who hated scrolling did not have the FAQ (which helped newbies, sporatic readers, and others who needed links to pivotal strips) removed we coukd have pointed out that the first item in there is that we ALL know this is a form of fiction, but it is fun to think about and discuss points just as it is with other forms of fiction.And certainly having the FAQ reduced the numbers of arguments and trollings. Given that those are picking up again where they left off, i wonder if a troll wanting to exercise typing fingers was the complainer?

7I am glad it appears everything is turning out “ok” now for Brad and Toni. Questions I am pondering, however, include:1. I am hoping there is NOT a decision to just simply elope for the two of them. That has been long discussed here by many, but in my manner of thinking it is not really a) a compromise solution that takes into account both Brad and Toni’s ideal choices, and b) eloping can sometimes (often?) cause hard feelings for family members. 2, I am hoping the two of them both agree upon something small, and fun for both of them that does include at least close family and friends. I think weddings work out best that way, when it is inclusive of family.

Frank Farkel…. I am reposting this for you in case you did not see it yesterday. I am truthfully unsure of what I had missed or did not “get”, so if you want to elaborate a bit, I will try to explain my ideas:@Frank Farkel (yesterday)Not really sure what I may have missed from your comments, Frank. If you want to elaborate on what I must have missed, I will try to explain. What sense of humor do you mean that I apparently do not have?

Think of the planning as organizing the chaos, finding the proper vendor for your needs.

They need a small, simple wedding with no frills.

they need to do a small JP wedding. Brad will do the easy for her you watch!

on a serious note, this is why it is wise for all the decisions should be made by the one who gives a damn“What color should we …” “I don’t give a damn, pick one”

@ioata 2001: Shannon is not in the hot car. She is being TJ assistant remodeler: overjoyed that she gets to " smash things"

Being and Becoming—Toni has a surprisingly philosophical outlook, as well as a profound self-appraisal. But, most of all, she has Brad, who has come to his senses very quickly!Now, on with the wedding!

Oh, gosh, yes. That remodel could make for some fine strips!

Bridal decisions, Brad? Toni is way less interested in those decisions than you. Are you the bride? Otherwise, you don’t know your place. Yes, go ahead and elope! Right now! You obviously don’t know what you’re doing!

There’s a simple solution to Toni’s problem….let Brad make all the decisions about the things he wants in the wedding while Toni promises to show up for the wedding on time.

Somehow, I see Team Evans reworking O. Henry ’s“The Gift of the Magi” with this wedding ceremony.

http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/Gift_of_the_Magi.html

Looks like this part of Florida is going to be a bit luckier than the Gulf Coast communities and the Big Bend (Panhandle) area. We are getting steady rain, but it’s flooding in St. Pete and those areas, and there have been evacuations from Northern Florida. The storm is heading for Georgia, and the Carolinas, too. Meanwhile, there is another storm heading to the Carolinas from the Atlantic.

Good luck to all!

A firefighter who can’t handle chaos?

In today’s comic, Toni says to B-wad, “You’re the one thing in my life that make me feel safe, stable, and sane.”

????(facepalm)(headdesk)(bodyfloor)

Ooooookkkay, crazy lady.

B-wad is the guy who:1) When he’s laid off, doesn’t know he can file for unemployment2) When a toddler in his care goes missing because B-wad’s been thinking about dating funtime, STARTS RIPPING THE WALLS OUT OF THE HOUSE3) While working in a “you-want-fries-with-that” franchise, squeals like a ten-year-old when given the headphones.4) Complains continuously about babysitting his girlfriend’s niece, and somehow translates that complaining into “wanting to adopt” her.5) Rewards and reinforces violent, antisocial behavior in his “niece”.6) Obsesses about bridal arrangements while completely ignoring his girlfriend’s emotional breakdown.

This is the person who “keeps you sane”? The person YOU JUST RAN AWAY FROM BECAUSE HE WAS DRIVING YOU INSANE?

LOGIC CIRCUITS FAIL! LOGIC CIRCUITS FAIL!

DANGER WILL ROBINSON, DANGER!

Robot waves arms frantically, circuits popping and hissing in a shower of sparks, falls over BOOM!

Brad is the only guy who has made Toni feel safe, stable and sane. But is Toni in love with Brad (as a result) or is she marrying for stability and safety?

Will Brad take this conversation as a hint that he should reconsider the ‘becoming part’ and offer to have it be less of the high hurdle he has made it into?

It is clear from Toni’s facial expression and comment in the last panel that she will NOT enjoy the wedding as Brad has been planning it. How could Brad enjoy an event with Toni during which she would so uncomfortable? .

It is obvious that there is no sexual tension in this relationship, so we know that that aspect has been dealt with. They are alone on a bench, out in the country, and are not even touching. So, with that distraction out of the way, they have moved to a higher level and are calmly discovering more about each other. Toni already feels married and just wants to start living like it. Truth is Brad probably feels the same way.

And, regarding the drawing: In panel 3, Toni looks like she could be the mother of that little boy sitting next to her. Greg does a better job drawing his cast of females.

No one going to post the one page history of this strip? Bueller?

Good for you, Brad. And Toni, for finally saying she’s had enough. A small family wedding, maybe even a home wedding, or in a park, or on the beach. Simple. that would be perfect.

Yes. I doubt they even truly want to know when they will not check recent strips or comments.

SPOILER

Is it possible that Brad has been reading the comments here? Is he about to solve the problem the way many have suggested?

That would sound reasonable!-Problem is, though, some don’t like the idea of having to go back, even a few days….for anything. To them, it’s like ‘digging through a junk drawer. Sad commentary on the ’immediacy’ in our society. And my junk drawer.

Brad is a stabilizer.WHATAGUY!!