For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for September 01, 2024

The last panel is the best panel as Gordon for the following reasons:

1. Michael’s shocked look as Rhetta gives him the eye looking for his response.

2. Lawrence and his boyfriend Ben giving each other the side eye even though same sex marriage was not going to be legalized in Canada for another 10 years.

3. I also like the mysterious blonde with the large earring latching onto the freckly guy beside her in the final panel and Elly’s look of dismay as she does. Sorry, Elly, but you are already taken.

4. Brian and his date, a previously unseen, very short Asian woman are amazed as they stare at something behind Mike. We never find out who Brian’s date is.

5. The single best reaction is the guy standing behind Brian’s date. He looks completely shocked.

Odd things about the wedding:

1. No maid or matron of honor. Mike is there for Gordon. Why no one for Tracey?

2. Tracey is still not allowed to speak in public, continuing a strange trend that has occurred since she and Gordon started dating 4 years ago.

3. Rhetta’s hair band that changes colors mysteriously.

4. The reception food table that includes the head of an infant as a food choice.

5. What is the world is the decoration on Michael’s tie? It looks like a string of Christmas Tree lights.

Well, see who catches the bouquet & garter.

If April gets the bouquet, all the other unattached ladies might want to consider the convent.

Thank goodness the ceremony went off without any drunken scenes from Gordon’s parents. Hopefully, they weren’t there at all!

From Lynn’s Comments: Gordon and Tracey’s wedding was much like my first wedding—my reception was in my parents’ dining room; my mom made all the sandwiches and the cake.

Alright, Michael time to rise up.

Is this the first time we have seen Gordon without a hat?

And, once again, Tracey says absolutely nothing..

When my sister was married in June 1987, I was asked when I was next. I said I was single for life. She’s now a widow after three nephews, and I’m still celibate and happy living alone.

This reminds me so much of my own wedding, 39 years ago this weekend (actually 9/3, but we always celebrate Labor Day Weekend). Her hat even looked a little like mine, except mine had a small veil. We were even married by a female JP!

As are all their girlfriends.

Didn’t even recognized Gordon. He really got groomed up!

Some weddings have the tradition where the bride throws her bouquet to all single girls at the wedding to see who will get married next.

Then all single guys, divorced men and widowers gather to see the groom throw the bride’s garter. The man who catches that will get hitched next.

In the 4th panel, Elly’s wide-eyed expression makes her look surprised that they wedding is starting and Gordon & Tracey are actually going to get married.

Well, Michael?? Note Rhetta’s look… the looks on all the other guys – yeah, “Who’s next??”

Glad to see Elly rocking the middle aged woman’s formal look here. Maybe she’s stopped worrying about aging and just rolling with it now. Interesting that Brian’s the only guy without a jacket. Maybe that’s his true source of horror, rather than who gets the next wedding.

Ellie said son, you look wonderful tonight…

Truly a gift and a blessing to see marriage portrayed so beautifully in this piece. To honor and recognize it s a Divine union from God is also wounderful.

Marriage: the only Sacrament performed by the Bride and Groom.

What is the most popular weekend for a shotgun wedding?

Labor Day

No, now everyone will be wondering when the baby is due.

Gordon looks about 40 instead of 20/21. . .

Gordon is such a great character. He overcame a lot and built a good life for himself. He broke the cycle.

That happened to me with older people, but I get even at Funerals asking that. ;>)

No pressure Michael. Everyone’s looking at you, but no pressure.

Expectations of marriage seem to have changed to some degree, but not much. My grandfather shared with a time when he came home from the Second World War and bumped into a girl he went to high school with. She told him “Tom is that you? I am glad you came home safely; you look so good in uniform!” This caused him to say “Thank you Karen, glad to see you too after all this time! So, what are you doing tonight?” She responded “I need to get home to cook dinner for my husband.” He was somewhat taken aback that she was now married and he said “Well, congratulations on getting married, but, but, you are 23?!”. Her answer “I know! I was the last girl from our class to get married. When I had my 21st birthday I was still single and my parents were pacing the floor at night worried about how I would end up a spinster!” :P

As everyone knows (or should know from TV), prom is the high point of every public school kid’s life. Gordon married his prom date, now Brian, Lawrence and Michael need to do so as well.

When will we see Rhetta and Michael’s nuptials?

It ain’t me…

I have been to many formal weddings and a few less formal as this one is. The less formal ones are always more fun to attend and seem MORE celebratory. I think girls would do themselves a huge favor by letting go of the “princess_for_a_day” idea.

Michael’s friends at a Christmas party:

Brian: Deck the harrs with bars of horry. Fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra!

Lawrence and Gordon look at each other

Gordon: Fill the mead cup, drain the barrel. Fa la la la la la la la la la la!

Brian and Lawrence look at each other

Lawrence: Don we now our gay apparel. Fa la la la la la la la la la la la!

Brian and Gordon look at each other

I love this story and all of the smiles it brings.

There are so many shocked and suspicious faces in the last panel you’d think that Gordon had just announced that there’s been a murder and everyone is a suspect.

That depends on who catches the bouquet. ;)

You’re the man Gordo! Hurrah!

Better to hear that question at a wedding than a funeral!

That’s not Brian’s date, it’s his sister. As for Elly, she’s looking toward Mike and Rhetta, that’s why she looks gobsmacked, the idea probably never entered her head that her son might be next.

Liz may laugh at the thought of a ‘Worst Man’ now, but she has yet to meet Eric, Paul, or Howard Buntz!

Liz may laugh at the thought of a ‘Worst Man’ now, but she has yet to meet Eric, Paul, or Howard Buntz!