Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for July 26, 2022

You will realize when your halcyon days were after you have your first kid.

Mom and Dad’s halcyon days were way back in B.C. (before Calvin).

Either way, you’ll be really disappointed, Calvin.

They are before Family Responsibilities. Back when the worst that could happen (because we sure would never get a serious disease) was that we would have to sleep in a doorway somewhere.

For once, dad is completely right.

The halcyon days are when you learn great words like Halcyonity.

But in truth, the halcyon days are only such because you forget about the bad parts.

Halcyon remembrances are what is left after taking the rough stones of the events of your youth and embellishing and polishing the stories into fine gems of heroic tales.

I’m still waiting for them. If they ever turn up, they’ll be the halcyon days of old age.

Dad just stated a cosmic principle, right there!

Two black guys, according to Esquire in 1969, were graduating from Dartmouth. One said to the other, in 20 years we’ll look back on this and think about what a good time we had. The other guy said, maybe you will, but I’ve got a better memory than that. Halcyon days are the property of those with lesser memories.

My halcyon days started after I was 21.

2 4 6 8 who do we appreciate if dad can’t do it Mom can

Mom will say pretty much the same, Calvin.

These are “the good old days”.

Does Dad actually think that “halcyon days” come when a person becomes an adult and moves out of his/her parents’ home??

Well, yes—I agree; as long as said adult remains single and child-free!!

I’ve wondered this myself lately (not in response to this strip), but more generally, as I’m now 51.

I think it was when I was around 6 or 7, before we started to move house (and town) as my father chased promotion and those visits stopped as we were too far away, and as a bad trade I instead had no friends and was increasingly bullied by characters like Moe.

The grandparents I would ever meet (my fathers dad died when he was 14) were still alive when I was that age (7), we would on a regular interval go to one of their houses for the weekend. I’d see cousins (occassionally), older relatives who have since died, visit their houses, get to experience a kind of family I now no longer know about as it’s gone.

I can see why older people (and I’m increasingly that way) are tired, they’ve lost so much in the process of getting there.

My wife, when she doesn’t get the answer she wants form me, go’s and askes U-tube.

Dad nails one!

A little early to be asking that, isn’t it, Calvin?

We lived in Halcyon when I was a kid, then moved to Buffalo.

Halcyonity is relative? Aunt, Uncle, Cousin – which one is it?

Apparently lots of interesting uses for that word.

Wait, who is this Hal guy again? And who is he related to?

halcyon: denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.

You may be idyllically happy Calvin, but I’m not so sure about the peaceful part.

Also known as your salad days. But in Calvin’s case the salads usually attack him.

“Happiness isn’t something you experience; it’s something you remember.” —Oscar Levant

Einstein’s lesser and mostly forgotten Theory of Halcyonivity.

Been reading the dictionary again, Calvin?

Halcyonity is relative. So, is relativity halcyon? (By Calvin logic.)

Oh good. Calvin’s related.

My Dad was better with providing pertinent questions, such as, “What will you do when she leaves you, son?”

“The same thing as when the others left. Thanks for asking.”

I don’t remember any halcyon days in my youth. Where the heck do I apply for them? I looked in Amazon but all I see is motorcycle and boat stuff or star wars. …well, maybe that’s about right

I’ve noticed Calvin has a killer vocabulary… he seems like some kind of savant, brilliant, yet always getting into trouble.

One Saturday, when I was seven, I watched the sun going down. I thought about all the fun I’d had that day and how the next Saturday was a whole week away.

That was a halcyon day.

“You only remember the losses.” – John Madden “You only remember the regrets.” – Breeze Labonte.

Calvin"s dad is a genius of detachment. Just like my dad—hiding behind a newspaper or book.

Since I gave up hope I feel much better.* My halcyon days have begun anew.

*Ashleigh Brilliant

Actually, this is a pretty philosophical question.

I suspect Mom will just sigh and get a dreamy, faraway look in her eyes, Cal. :D

Oh boy, we have a halcyon contamination. Break out the hazmat gear.

Comics are so educational, constantly expanding my knowledge and vocabulary.

Does Dad ever PLAY with Calvin?

Mom would know.

This is one of the times that Dad is actually right and not just pulling Calvin’s leg.

Just in time to be too late!

Halcyonity is not exactly a defined word… But I think we all get Dad’s comment.

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now

I’m still waiting for my Halcyon days. Either that or I was out of town, and missed them.

Calvin, your halcyon days are weekends, holidays, and all other days when there is no school – that is, at least while you’re still young enough not to have homework spilling over into what would otherwise be halcyon days.

Every weekend and every summer until you get your first job, kid. Enjoy it while it lasts.

I like the new word “halcyonity”, but spellcheck won’t recognize it.

Halcyon was denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful, which you can’t determine until you are not happy and peaceful…ie Adulthood.

Dad is being wise, but Calvin isn’t old enough to see that.