Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for September 15, 2023

Janis nailed it.

I think this week has been a catharsis for JimmyJ. What coming will be a major change in the strip. But it will be fun tot watch Arlo interact with his grand daughter.

I have 20 years’ worth of “things” in my house, added to the 30-odd years more of my parents’ “things” cluttering up my loft space and adding to the dust. But then in the dust that drifts down, I see mirages of simpler times, unforgotten faces, dreams, memories of two generations and much more that makes my life less meaningless…

I think this could be the beginning of the end for the strip. Them moving off ‘into the sunset’.

Last strip: Arlo and Janis surrounded by family in their new home.

I try not to let items gather, every 6 months I go through my closets and drawers. If I haven’t seen/used/thought of something it gets donated to Salvation Army.

Which is why my house will never be neat. My wife has determined it will be up to the kids to sort after she is gone.

I do hope that this is simply a chapter in the Arlo and Janis story and not the end of the strip.

You can’t miss things you don’t know you have, but when you find those things they can be a wonderful find.

An old 8mm film, forgotten, found (converted to digital) and brings back forgotten moments of every day life from years ago. Parents who are healthy and active (and still alive). Audio recordings of parents, siblings, friends, long gone that brings them back to life. After 20 or so years, you can hear them after having forgotten the sound of their voice.

Trinkets, awards, momentos, photos, etc that make the fabric of our personal history. Photos, or gifts/trinkets, of a child (possibly now dead) growing up, or the growing romance that results in a marriage. Get rid of them and, yes, they won’t be missed, but you’ll never find them (either at random, or intentionally) to relive or be reminded of those times.

Obviously those items weren’t a burden to keep, didn’t take up space that was needed for other uses.

Yeah, when you look back on your life, are you going to say, “Oh no, I wish I’d taken more time to …” ??? But the way the world has played with me, I’m afraid I don’t care anymore.

Closing on our new house this morning. We’ve been in a condo for 20 years now. I’ll have a beautiful backyard and screened in patio. We also have 20 years of stuff to declutter to sell our place. Funny, the timing with my favorite comic strip.

You are finally getting wisdom….

The strip survived Janis’s haircut. It’ll survive a move to the beach retirement.

I don’t have lots of “things,” but I do have lots of photos I’ve been arranging by decades in albums. When I look back at those memories, at all the fun and all the loves, I don’t feel sad. I feel fulfilled.

Janis is bummed right now because she sees her life as nothing more than a collection of harmonicas, vases and naughty Polaroids we watched them sift this week. But her (fictional) life is so much more, and if she could wind back through the strips like we readers can, she would realize this.

That concludes this morning’s coffee cup affirmation.

Things which once mattered matter no more. Things unvalued gain perceived worth.

Ah, the stuff we accumulate. We lived in Japan for 6 years, moved back here and 25 years later, the stuff we had there is still in boxes in the attic. This winter we plan on taking them down and reliving our past. Should be fun and sad.

we are in this place but raising grandkids so not moving just yet. still, so much junk! and why/how did we acquire it in the first place?!

next we’re going through the grands’ load of early toys, etc. to clear that out. that will be it’s own challenge :\

As my sis-in-law once wisely said, when I moaned the loss of some family things: “They’re just things!” She’s so right!

Things we tend to forget. People and those whom we love cannot be forgotten. That includes you too JJ. When my bride was alive we always got a chuckle out of Arlo’s and Janis’ antics. Both her and I were cat people so Luddie and his ways entertained us as well.

Retiring helps give you perspective you’ll need at this part of your life. You work at a stressful demanding difficult job successfully for 36 years…bosses, directors, staff and co workers relying on your judgement and expertise to suceed. 3 weeks after you are retired its like taking your finger out of a glass of water…the ripples die down and you can’t tell your finger was ever there. Same is true for moving, downsizing, etc. the “stuff” is gone, and in a few weeks or months it’s like it was never there. Your life is full of old moments, memories, dreams, places, and people. But not necessarily “old stuff”, remebering stuff you no longer have is really the very least of our past. It won’t be a source of pain. The hard part….it is now your job to accumulate new moments….family, friends, experiences, books, and if you can…places. Good luck

My personal opinion is….please let Arlo & Janis become grandparents! That would be a much happier ending than moving off Into the sunset. As a couple, they survived Gene moving to be with MaryLou & Meg, and helping them in their business adventures. They can go through down-sizing their memories in their present house, take what they cherish, move and begin to make new memories in a new location but still close with their loved ones. I know it is a “happy ever after future” ending, but this is a comic strip, meant to bring smiles and joy to those who read them. As I do every day! I love this comic strip!!

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. (Ecc 1:14)All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. (Ecc 3:20)

We’ve held on to these things for so long now. It’s irrelevant that we haven’t opened these boxes in 20 years.