For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for February 27, 2024

The beginning of Gordon the Entrepreneur.

Good for him

He also earned his respect.

Jon should buy the place and lease to own to Gordon.

For those wondering yesterday who was who, no doubts about it today.

Nice.

Ray’s background might be similar to Gordon’s, with drunken, abusive parenting, And, like Gordon, he managed to rise above it. Empathy is a powerful emotion.

There’s a great lesson in this strip — a positive message about earning trust.

This was such a great storyline. I’ve always liked good ol’ Gordo.

The only sure way to have someone end up with something you want them to have is to give it to them while you’re alive.

So Ray is suffering bad health in Milborough a suburb about an hours drive north of Toronto and to move to Smiths Falls which is about an hours drive west from Ottawa? I would think the climate is about the same there, and Ray’s health wouldn’t change much unless the doctors at Smith Falls are far better.

SPOILERS!! Ahead:

It’s touching to know that these two grow so close that Gordon will always refer to John by his title, ‘Doctor’, and never by his first name.

Gordon is a good example that sometimes you don’t need a college education to be successful. I want him to keep being successful.

And earning someone’s trust is worth far, far more than gold. A friend of a relative is in the reverse situation to Gord; he’s a farmer, and none of his kids are interested in the farm. He’s got this fantastic machine shop too, and all kinds of great equipment, but no one to pass off all his knowledge too. Or at least, that was the situation. A young guy started working on the farm, helping out, and the helping out grew over time. Now they’ve got a relationship very similar to Ray and Gord, where this young man has earned his trust, and they’ve got an arrangement where he’s going to buy the farm over time, allowing the old man to transfer knowledge so the young guy can learn how all that equipment works.

Gordon, a man that can be counted on to do the right thing. He rose above his alcoholic parents, his poor home life and became a man, with the help of his friends. Which is why John and Ellie think so highly of him.

More treacle, STAT!

I am gratified that Gordon at least has ‘Dr. P’ with whom he can talk and discuss matters ! ! !

Good for Gordon. He validates the trust placed in him.

Nice to see someone succeed without a college education. We need good honest tradesmen. College isn’t for everyone.

Good luck, Gordon!

You know what they say about actions speaking louder than words – I guess that Gordon’s really put in the work!

“He hardly knows me”? What are you talking about, Gordon? You have been working for the guy since you were 16 years old. Now you live in the apartment above his garage and you run his business, while he is sick. That’s plenty of time to know a guy.

Now, admittedly, it’s obvious someone had to rewrite that name “Ray” in the first balloon in the first panel because half the time you call him Dan and half the time you call him Ray (and someone in authorland probably forgot what the guy’s name was again and had to correct it), but that’s no reflection on you. That’s a problem with the author. Ray knows you. Dan probably does too.

Gord is one amazing young man.

I really enjoy the Gordon Arc! This is such good stuff! Thank you Lynn.

However, there is an advantage in getting an education. This is Canada. They do not send college graduates to prison.

So true TRUST something a lot of people forget today

Made me tear-up and I knew it was coming, having read and re-read the strip for decades.

By the end of the strip, this place will rival Disneyland in size

See Jon, aren’t you glad he didn’t let you push him down a more white collar career path a few months back.

We need more Gords in the world.

If I got a dime for all the remarks to Cats in the Cradle this past week I would have a private plane on 24-hour standby. I found some happier songs. One I would recommend is Color Him Father by the Winstons, about a man who married a war widow and loved her kids like his own. Just there are plenty of “wicked stepmother” stereotypes, Hollywood and other media have often put down their male equivalents (this strip is also guilty). It is good to see something that puts stepfathers in a positive light.

Answer this question:

If it was wrong for Mr. Mayes to hit Gordon, why was it considered funny when Brad Luggsworth hit Michael?

My compliments to Lynn Johnson for a strip with a good traditional message.

That’s very cool. Too bad there aren’t more Gord’s in the world today. Most are too busy babysitting their phones or video games instead of working hard and earning their way.

And trust is a valuable gift.