Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for February 06, 2018

(Collective Gasps!) So what now?

Why you decided not to? Please explain Irma, and don’t take the rest of the year to do so. Gunther got caught off guard too, like the rest of us.

Now does Al tell his nephew Leslie about it? Or is Leslie going to pry Al like Gunther did to Irma?

Irma – “I said No.”

Gunther – “OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH……..,”

“Happy Days are HERE, Again!”

“I Can get a Good Night’s SLEEP, Again!”

“And Old Les can take it On the Chin!”

“Happy Days are HERE, A-gaaaaaaaaaaain!!!”

Wow.

OMIGAW…! Even though that was what I read into Saturday’s strip, this is a bit of a shock. And I have to say it makes me a bit sad. Mrs. Berger likes Mr. Gray and they clearly enjoy each other’s company – what’s holding her back?

That shut that down.

Being an incurable optimist seeing the world through rosy glasses and wanting the rest of the world to know the joys of love the second time around, I was hoping for an elopement on Valentine’s day. Her “no” means complex issues which means more mellowdrama for the strip. I’m kinda disappointed because I was looking forward to the resolution of the conflicts between Les and Gunther. Back to trying to anticipate what Mr. Greg has in store for our enjoyment now.

I never said in my taking bets what my thoughts were, although I did reply to someone that it was likely that a woman asked would say “yes”, and not say “I” because to say yes is an immediate affirmative that she has been hoping would be asked, or reacts immediately yes, or both, but if an “I” starts the response then the answer is a slow no explanation. That is what I thought. Not a poll but anyone want to volunteer what they thought and why? I really and interested in why. Should she have said Yes? Is it because she can’t give up being a (s)motherer to Gunther?

Finally, we hear her decision!!

I think she’s been single too long and doesn’t relish in giving up the control of her life or sharing her life with someone else. She likes her house and her life and doesn’t feel she needs a man. She enjoys dating and prefers to leave it at that. Smart decision, I think. She could have a companion but not a husband.

Good for you Mrs. Berger! There’s something not right about that man.

Irma, We have 10 months left in the year. We will all love to know your answer.

Now the question is, what does she know that the audience doesn’t? Or is it something that she doesn’t know—but senses a secret that could change the whole picture if she did?

And could rejection bring out something dark in Mr. Gray, held in abeyance until now? Stay tuned.

Now the question is, what does she know that the audience doesn’t? Or is it something that she doesn’t know—but senses a secret that could change the whole picture if she did?

And could rejection bring out something dark in Mr. Gray, held in abeyance until now? Stay tuned.

Gunther, you’re acting like a mom to your mom. She let you live your life, now you need to let her live hers. She doesn’t answer to you!

So Irma said No – not yet? Or did she say No, No. Perhaps Irma didn’t like Mr. Gray’s guest house idea. Both those boys should be thinking about getting on their own. Maybe tomorrow we are back to Tiffany’s plan to drive a wedge between AE and Tiff’s Dad. This is not a good time to jump to Luann & Tara in biology lab.

What’s her reason to reject Mr. Gray’s proposal? Gunther might like this!

Seriously discuss the futon?

Futon bunk beds?

Hey, build the outh—— er, guest house anyway.

Ya never know when Irma might have a use for an odd sock.

Mr Gray and Irma are children of the 60’s or 70’s, are they not? Perhaps they have just decided to shack up?

For what it’s worth. The comic strip never had them hold hands, or kiss, or be romantic together at all. Their dates, what I saw in the strip, were fairly emotionless.

I don’t blame her for saying no. Everyone is different, but his proposal seemed more like a business proposition rather than a matter of the heart.

Maybe Irma is gay and has a secret girlfriend that we will meet in a future story line.

Please cut this story line short. Gunther is the most BORING character in this strip.

She may have decided she doesn’t know him well enough yet. That doesn’t mean she won’t accept a future proposal.

So maybe they will “live in sin”, “shacking up”, or more recently, “live together”. But really, I think the thought of putting their two “boys” out in a guest cottage, and having someone essentially move in and take over things is unattractive to “mom”… I know I wouldn’t do it.

The Evanses have given us a lot of fuel for speculation. Why did Irma say no? How did Al take it? What happens to Gunther and Les, and the “family dinners” now? Hope we get some answers before the week ends, but given the usual pace of Luann, I’m not holding my breath! :)

Okay – who called it?

OK, first things first. What does Irma’s “No” mean? Does “no” mean “no” in this case? Or, does it mean “no, not right now?” Or, does it mean “No to the ‘guest house’ portion?” We’ll find out tomorrow, hopefully. The other thing is, assuming it’s a firm and final “no,” (on the marriage proposal), what will Al Gray do as a result and will it affect The Fuse and/or Les’ “progress” in any way? I should think/hope not, but one never knows…

“One Good Spurn, Reserves A Mother”

“Eliminate The Positive, Accentuate The Negative” (♬)

“Here Comes The Shun” (♬)

“No Ring Around Rosie” (♬)

“Kind Man’s Rebuff”

“Pick Up Nix”

“The Flooding Of Denial”

“It’s Affirm That You Can’t Join”

“What Comes After 5?….86!”

“If You Play Your Discards Right….”

“Snub-A-Hub, Bub!”

“Better Repudiate, Than Never”

“Give Her Credit For Declining”

or

“It’s Not What You Know, But Who You No”

Some wonder if there’s a reasonfor her ‘no’. I do, too. But even more, I wonder if something holds her back….or someone?

-

And is it a permanent no? Or a ‘conditional’ one?

-

…Guess we all may see what reason(s) there’d be…..

Their last name should be Bates instead of Berger.

Is that a “No,” “No now.” or “Absolutely Not!”? Did she let him down gently or crash & burn him? Inquiring minds want to know.

Re-examining the drawings, it strikes me that Irma looks unhappy about saying no.

What do you think? Is that how Greg draws her when she’s unhappy, or is that just solemnity?

My prediction: Gunther ends up talking her into it. Gunther realizes that he’s been unfairly trying to keep himself as the focus of her life, and he stops thinking of himself first. Irma also acknowledges the imbalance and is grateful for his grown-up wisdom and blessing. She tells Mr. Gray she’s changed her mind on Feb. 14 (or she proposes to him).

Not uncommon for someone, who has lost a spouse that they were married to for a long period and dearly loved, to want to maintain an independent lifestyle and avoid a new intimate relationship. Question is, when does Gunth break the cord – I think it is sooner rather than later and I bet he has already thought about this and made plans. The question is – did he inherit the buck conventional wisdom gene from his mom, and will he do what few people here expect?

Maybe an optimistic outlook for me, but it could be she isn’t ready, and that no is followed by a ‘not yet’. She may want to wait until Gunther is out of college instead of putting him in a guest house. Or maybe she thinks she doesn’t know Al Gray enough yet. She has led a very different lifestyle from Al Gray, I don’t think she’s quite ready for a quick proposal and marriage.

Smart move. He’s too evasive and secretive. Bad news.

To someone who’s been there and done that – getting married again isn’t always a major goal. There’s nothing wrong with dating and enjoying some companionship without merging everyone s established finances, homes, and losing independence.

As for Gunther living at home while going to college – people really do that. I did it myself.It saves money, it gives him a stable living arrangement while getting his degree and it doesn’t mean he’s a mamas boy at all.When he has a career, he’ll have money to buy his own home, marry and raise his own family.It’s fantastic he’s not fathering a bunch of kids with a string of baby mamas before he can support them.

Sigh. Chicks.

Toni said no the first time around too

Has anyone else figured out that Mrs. Berger’s no was simply de rigueur for the Evanses? Women saying no to wedding proposals the first time, and not being presented with wedding rings, are the strip’s attitude. Nothing unusual.

“So I think it’s time for us to sit down and seriously discuss the future”?! Gunther’s attitude toward his mother is highly patronizing and inappropriate.

Well, that sucks.

What happens if they decided to live together?

I think one reason is because she did not like the idea of Gunther and Leslie living together in the back house Mr. Gray suggested they build

Just because she said “no” to marrying him, it doesn’t mean they have to stop DATING or seeing each other. Mr. Gray doesn’t seem the type to stomp off and never see Irma again.

“April Fool!”

How do you spell relief?

Maybe he shouldn’t have brought a set of blueprints (are they still called that?) to his marriage proposal.

Irma may simply not love Mr. Gray. Let’s not overthink this.

Evanses are depicting a more mature Gunther today. Tiffany seems to have given him a push in the right direction.

Today’s strip reminds me of an old The Bob Newhart Show episode (great show), where one of Bob’s neurotic patients, Elliot Carlin (Jack Riley) proposes to Bob’s secretary, Carol Kester (Marcia Wallace). Elliot plans EVERYTHING out for their lives together, including reserving two burial plots for them. Carol started out as being very flattered, but backed out in the end, simply because she (while lonely) did not truly love him.

Al is not neurotic at all, but his presumptions and over-planning likely contributed to Irma saying no (at least for now).

To me, the “no” is surprising. But as many have said, it is early in the week, so what may transpire is anyone’s guess. However, it seems like a difficult row to hoe in regards to any potential for this “no” to become a “yes” at this point.

Since I have been absent a while, I have a few other points spanning the last few comics also to consider:

1) The whole “Guest House” idea seems a very good and viable idea. With the presumption of this being California, it could easily be beyond the means of a college student (Gunther) or a Fuse worker (Les) to afford other living accommodations at this time. While it may not be something Gunther or Les would appreciate, it could be very, very helpful financially for them in the short term ( a few years).

2) The “Guest House” idea also makes a lot of sense to me in regards to market value of the property Irma & Al would have if they had gotten married.

OK Gunther, mission accomplished! You can go back to Peru now. ’Bye!

And that is how you put the brakes on. Cut the fuel line.

PERHAPS HER FORMER SPOUSE IS NOT DEAD. Perhaps he just split and they are NOT DIVORCED. She feels she CANNOT REMARRY.

I think Mr. Gray may have been getting a little too pushy and possessive, proposing a separate house on her property for Gunther and Les to live in, effectively banishing Irma’s son from her own house. Somehow that did not sit right with me and maybe not with her either. I also didn’t like the way Mr. Gray treated the waiter who was trying to do his job, Al was rude to him; he could have said.. ‘can we have another moment to study the menu?’ Instead he snarled. It said something about Mr. Gray, that he’s someone who insists on things going his own way all the time.

Too many comments for me to read them all, so if this has already been said, I apologize.

………..

Everyone has been discussing the issue of ‘will Irma marry Al’ primarily from the perspective of the impact it might be expected to have on Gunther. Either that Gunther will be forced to live in a guest cottage with someone who bullied him in high school, or that the marriage would inevitably mean that Gunther would be denied access to Tiffany, or what.

……….

No one seemed interested very much in what the impact would be on Irma Berger, who would be the one actually affected. (Despite all protests to the contrary, Gunther showed while in Peru that he does have a marketable skill that pays a good wage, so, even if attending college, he could work part-time and earn enough to pay for a dorm room if nothing else.)

………

I agree with RSH, Al Gray seems overly controlling when things aren’t going exactly his way. Since Gunther himself already displays this tendency toward his mother, why would she want another such man in her life?

Clearly she is not a fifty shades of Gray kind of woman. That sort of stuff is not for everyone.

Well, this is a stunning development!

I can’t believe Greg and Karen will just write out Al Gray as a character, though. He has too much hidden potential. So, maybe, eventually, Irma will change her mind and say “yes”….

Yes!!! I called it… Predicted a “No” was coming….probably still down from a previous romance…or just plain not interested….

“Don’t go breaking my heart

I couldn’t if I tried

Honey if I get restless

Baby you’re not that kind"

But she may be.

Reading it another way, it is possible that Irma turned down Al’s offer for Gunther’s sake (she is accustomed to always putting Gunther’s needs first), and that Gunther will now reassure her that he does not want to stand in the way of her happiness, thus causing her to reconsider. But if that were the case, Irma might have asked Al for more time to think about it. Instead she just said ‘no’ which suggests that she is the one who would be uncomfortable.

Les will be relieved … he probably will rejoice in not having to be nice around Gunther any more.