For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for January 04, 2023

a wrinkled smooth operator… that’s Jim alright

“the catch of the day”? So Elizabeth is like an expensive piece of fresh fish you can order off a menu at a restaurant? Also, why is 20 the cut-off date for breaking hearts? Why do I get the feeling that in Grandpa’s mind if Elizabeth is over 20 and not married, she will be an old maid. Sorry, Grandpa. “smooth” is not the word I would use for you.

What a nice thing he did.

A little flattery will go a long way. Also Anthony will always like her. Always…..

Dang! I could only hope to achieve this level of sweet talkin’….G-pa’s still got it!

Who would like to date Lizardbreath?

Lizzie is not as oblivious as I had thought.

Every girl needs a grandpa like that. :-)

This is strange. In the third panel Liz says Grandpa as if she is out walking with him. But in the fourth panel it looks more like it is Grandma that is with her. She even grows a few inches shorter and talks about grandpa as if he is a third person, “Ahh, he may have a few wrinkles.” instead of “I may have a few wrinkles.”

Anthony….. BAAAAARRRF…

Oh, Grampa, you have no idea… By the time she is 25, she will have played a major part in wrecking someone else’s marriage.

Making others feel good about themselves never goes out of fashion.

Thanks Grandpa. A bit of ego inflation is appreciated when you have a brother like Michael. She has enough humility.

Get serious Duck. Grandpa is trying to bolster Lizzie’s spirit and make her believe in herself. Quit over-analyzing the situation. It is a COMIC!!

Howtheduck has LOST his/her historical perspective. What was socially acceptable 50 years ago but may not be acceptable today, is the case in point. Grandpa represents a vastly different generation than his grand daughter and should be given the respect that his age and experience justifies. Frankly I would prefer the generation of my father (without its racial prejudices). Do not ask for my pronoun!!!!!

Different times, different contexts. I think this strip was originally drawn in the 70s or 80s.

Anything to boost her self-esteem is good

I actually got in trouble for giving that advice. Many years ago, at Sunday dinner, I noticed my cousin was down because her boyfriend had moved out of state. I told her that she was wicked smart, a drop-dead gorgeous redhead with just the right amount of crazy so she should fully expect boys to start lining up to date her. This seemed to have helped put her in a better mood the rest of the day. My grandpa, however had overheard my words and later asked me to take a drive to town with him. Along the way I got a scolding about how I should not be putting ideas in her head because he wanted her to go to college like me and not getting married too young. Fast forward to today and my cousin is 62, a successful businesswoman, a drop-dead gorgeous redhead with just the right amount of crazy who is recently widowed. And men have already started lining up to date her. She’s holding off to take time to mourn. Nailed it.

Sometimes it just takes old experienced eyes to see what is right there in front of you.

What is that saying regarding girls…there are plenty of fish in the ocean………..

He hasn’t seen Anthony yet.

She did break hearts—-Anthony’s not the least.

He sure is.

I think, generally, grandpas are around to build the grandchildren’s sense of self and send out pure love.

Ironically, Lynn Johnston’s second marriage failed because Rod stuck his rod where it didn’t belong.

What happened with the failure of her first marriage?

I’m into “cute” girls and, if I were a child, I would be exactly like Anthony! (Heck! I was as dorky looking as him before I grew a robust mustache too.)

I hated that mustache.

There have been many times I’ve been a bit surprised by HTD’s opinions. Not horrified or anything like that, just wondered about background. This is a good example. Grandpa appears to be trying to get to know his granddaughter a bit better, and give her ego a well deserved boost. Yeah, it’s full of platitudes (“catch of the day” for instance), but “by 20” to a 13 or 14 year old is an eternity. I was raised southern baptist from an area where most kids got married just after High School, but even then and there complimenting a girl (or boy for that matter) for being attractive was seen as a positive thing. Please don’t take this as an attack, it certainly isn’t intended as such, I’m just curious as to the background culture that led to this opinion.

His comments made her smile and so his job as a Grandpa was done well….

My two grandpa’s never say that, one died when I was young, the other when I was in Middle School, both did not live near by.

Very sweet ♥♥