When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful,
a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical.
And all the birds in the trees, well they’d be singing so happily,
joyfully, playfully watching me.
But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible,
logical, responsible, practical.
And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable,
clinical, intellectual, cynical.
After our son’s first day of kindergarten, we asked him how it was, and he replied, “Perfect.”
The next morning when we got him up he asked, “Why do I have to get up so early?”
We said, “To go to school.”
He answered, “Again?”
For those who might not have seen it, there is an interview of Bill Watterson by John Campanelli at the Plain Dealer. It includes a picture of Bill - not all that unlike Calvin’s dad! The comments are interesting as well.
Although I have to respect his choice to end the strip, I strongly disagree that he had or would have run out of new ideas. A mind such as his just does not run dry of creative juices!
Watterson can be very good at dry humor. This is a good example of it with what Hobbs is saying and the expression on his face in the last frame. Understating the obvious is always funny.
Y’know, if you want a peek into Watterson’s thoughts today hike over to this site where he was interviewed.
http://www.cleveland.com/living/index.ssf/2010/02/billwattersoncreator_of_belo.html
He has some real heavy and important things to say.
Shame on Calvin’s mom for not teaching him how to put on a pair of pants. That’s not something the school should have to teach him. But it reminds me of when I was in kindergarten the teacher had all the kids come up to tie a shoe and I was the only one who could do it because my mom taught me stuff like that at home. She also taught me how to read when I was three and how to print. She refused to teach me handwriting though I begged her to. But I was pretty far ahead of the other kids. Thanks mom.
It’s a “fallacy” that Calvin is smart; he might be intelligent, but not smart.
Calvin’s argument doesn’t have a leg on which to stand (to stand on). Don’t fall for it!
Watterson must still be entertaining his artistic muse. I wonder what form it’s taking today. I’m just grateful that Calvin & Hobbs are still available to start my day with their quirky, insightful humor.
The Skulker: You’re absolutely right! Bill Watterson looks EXACTLY like Calvin’s dad (minus the mustache)! I wonder if Calvin’s mom looks like Bill’s wife, sister, or mother? Was Calvin modeled after his son or maybe a brother? I wish he weren’t so reclusive so that we could know more about him and how he was able to come up with all the wonderful ideas for this strip for so long.
It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years since C & H ended. Given Bill Watterson’s constant stubbornness regarding marketing of any kind where C & H is concerned, it’s just a wonder that we still have a place to go on the internet where we can enjoy a daily dose of our precocious Calvin and his beloved stuffed tiger, Hobbes … but I’m so glad that we do!!!!
I remember saying to relatives that kindergarden wasn’t so bad, I did it yesterday. I cried though when I was told I had to go back again the next day. It was a bit easier to handle when I knew Mom wouldn’t be there either. She went back to teaching when I started my first day of school at my school too. Atleast I knew I’d see her sometime during the day but it wasn’t our time anymore but on the school’s!
“A very rich man is quoted as say his schooling was a waste of time in his life All 3 years of it”
I have heard a church member say, about faith sharing, “I learned about my faith preparing for first communion. That’s enough for me. What do I need this faith sharing for?”
So, in two or three years of CCD, she learned everything. Good student!
margueritem over 14 years ago
LX013 I love your wild rose.
kpeiyin over 14 years ago
Was Hobbes implying that Calvin was clumsy? Stupid?
johnnydoc5 over 14 years ago
Checkmate Hobbes!
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ over 14 years ago
I’m surprised that Calvin remembered to put his pants on!
Yukoner over 14 years ago
But Calvin, if you don’t go to school you can’t grow up and be like your Dad, Weeelll, maybe you do have a point.
“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” Mark Twain
00andy over 14 years ago
Good one Yukoner…. Calvin is virtually the most intelligent boy of age 6 I know. He’s far beyond in thinking, how pants are put on is not crucial.
vibjyor over 14 years ago
Here is a joke I read in Readers’ Digest a long time back :
Kid comes back from school after his first day at school and the father anxiously asks ‘How was your day ? What did you learn ?’
Kid replies ‘I learnt ABCD. But it is not finished yet. I have to go back again tomorrow.’
rentier over 14 years ago
Thank you Margue!
bigCandHfan over 14 years ago
3 months is plenty Calvin, which makes the remaining 11.75 years of school a waste of time..
but how did u get 11.5 years?? :) does that say something?!! :)
Troglodyte over 14 years ago
@Yukoner
That’s one of my fave quotes.
Sums up Calvin’s attitude pretty neatly.
anusach over 14 years ago
i just love Hobbes concern and his look!!!!
senseilance over 14 years ago
When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful, a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical. And all the birds in the trees, well they’d be singing so happily, joyfully, playfully watching me. But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical, responsible, practical. And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable, clinical, intellectual, cynical.
Supertrampcdward over 14 years ago
After our son’s first day of kindergarten, we asked him how it was, and he replied, “Perfect.” The next morning when we got him up he asked, “Why do I have to get up so early?” We said, “To go to school.” He answered, “Again?”
Rakkav over 14 years ago
Classic ENFP-in-training, front to back.
TheSkulker over 14 years ago
For those who might not have seen it, there is an interview of Bill Watterson by John Campanelli at the Plain Dealer. It includes a picture of Bill - not all that unlike Calvin’s dad! The comments are interesting as well.
http://www.cleveland.com/living/index.ssf/2010/02/bill_watterson_creator_of_belo.html
Although I have to respect his choice to end the strip, I strongly disagree that he had or would have run out of new ideas. A mind such as his just does not run dry of creative juices!
propellermario over 14 years ago
…my point was that you need 100 more years of school” says hobbes
Dkram over 14 years ago
How did Calvin get to the school bus with both his legs in one pant leg?
Tiny steps.
\\//_
lewisbower over 14 years ago
Ahhh, remember how nice it was to know everything. Well, maybe as a child I hadn’t quite learned the concept of grey.
jrbj over 14 years ago
Watterson can be very good at dry humor. This is a good example of it with what Hobbs is saying and the expression on his face in the last frame. Understating the obvious is always funny.
the_one_and_only_never over 14 years ago
Hobbes, I love your expressions!!! For a stuffed tiger you manage them pretty well!
wicky over 14 years ago
Y’know, if you want a peek into Watterson’s thoughts today hike over to this site where he was interviewed. http://www.cleveland.com/living/index.ssf/2010/02/billwattersoncreator_of_belo.html He has some real heavy and important things to say.
BuzzDog over 14 years ago
Sounds like Calvin is a budding Robert Fulghum fan!
GROG Premium Member over 14 years ago
That was funny. How did he manage that?
Yukoneric over 14 years ago
Some parochial schools only go 8 years and the graduates are, on average, a whole lot better educated than those in the public system.
midiranger over 14 years ago
cdward - LOL! Love Hobbes nonchalant eye roll in the last panel!
Stede_Bonnet over 14 years ago
It is a small mind that can only think of one way to wear a pair of pants.
lazygrazer over 14 years ago
I was doing fine until they taught me to quit daydreaming and get serious so I could amount to something.
mexdr1958 over 14 years ago
Quintessential Calvin, quintessential Hobbes observation: The quintessential cartoon!!!
alondra over 14 years ago
Shame on Calvin’s mom for not teaching him how to put on a pair of pants. That’s not something the school should have to teach him. But it reminds me of when I was in kindergarten the teacher had all the kids come up to tie a shoe and I was the only one who could do it because my mom taught me stuff like that at home. She also taught me how to read when I was three and how to print. She refused to teach me handwriting though I begged her to. But I was pretty far ahead of the other kids. Thanks mom.
Trainwreck_1 over 14 years ago
If Calvin had to put his pants back on and as he says “I fell down a lot” then I have one word… Belt.
Puddleglum2 over 14 years ago
It’s a “fallacy” that Calvin is smart; he might be intelligent, but not smart. Calvin’s argument doesn’t have a leg on which to stand (to stand on). Don’t fall for it!
Puddleglum2 over 14 years ago
“How on earth did you get all the way to the bus stop…?” “I fell down (on earth) a lot all the way to the bus stop.”
lobkiller over 14 years ago
bigCandH that’d be 11.66 years, school year is only 9 months long, MOST PLACES, hehe
Brother_James437 over 14 years ago
When you have a high IQ like Calvin must have, who needs common sence?
harrietbe over 14 years ago
Watterson must still be entertaining his artistic muse. I wonder what form it’s taking today. I’m just grateful that Calvin & Hobbs are still available to start my day with their quirky, insightful humor.
Shikamoo Premium Member over 14 years ago
Hobbes shouldn’t be so critical. He doesn’t need to think about clothes, he wears the same thing every day.
Yukoner over 14 years ago
Reading all these comments reminds me of one of my favourite songs by Paul Simon.
“When I think of all the cr@p I learned in High School, it’s a wonder I can think at all!” Kodachrome by Paul Simon
ronaldmundy over 14 years ago
paul, it wasn’t his pants that were falling down.
Colonialgirl over 14 years ago
Only 11 3/4 years left ?????
Well, there are those that have to go to summer school to make up for what they didn’t learn in the other 3/4’s of a year
Aardvark359 over 14 years ago
Talk about perseverence in the face of adversity! Good job Calvin! I admire pluck!
COWBOY7 over 14 years ago
This one is a classic! I love it. Go hobbes!
COWBOY7 over 14 years ago
Very good song, Yukoner.
Gretchen's Mom over 14 years ago
I don’t know what to say about a stay-at-home mom who doesn’t notice their child leaving the house for school with both feet through one pant leg!!!!!
Trainwreck_1 over 14 years ago
Thank you “ronaldmundy” That’s what I get for reading CandH before I’ve had my coffee…
Gretchen's Mom over 14 years ago
The Skulker: You’re absolutely right! Bill Watterson looks EXACTLY like Calvin’s dad (minus the mustache)! I wonder if Calvin’s mom looks like Bill’s wife, sister, or mother? Was Calvin modeled after his son or maybe a brother? I wish he weren’t so reclusive so that we could know more about him and how he was able to come up with all the wonderful ideas for this strip for so long.
It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years since C & H ended. Given Bill Watterson’s constant stubbornness regarding marketing of any kind where C & H is concerned, it’s just a wonder that we still have a place to go on the internet where we can enjoy a daily dose of our precocious Calvin and his beloved stuffed tiger, Hobbes … but I’m so glad that we do!!!!
ratlum over 14 years ago
A very rich man is quoted as say his schooling was a waste of time in his life All 3 years of it
ratlum over 14 years ago
Bill Watterson might be commenting with us every day
Dino-1 over 14 years ago
I remember saying to relatives that kindergarden wasn’t so bad, I did it yesterday. I cried though when I was told I had to go back again the next day. It was a bit easier to handle when I knew Mom wouldn’t be there either. She went back to teaching when I started my first day of school at my school too. Atleast I knew I’d see her sometime during the day but it wasn’t our time anymore but on the school’s!
mrprongs over 14 years ago
Um, didn’t Hobbes notice Calvin falling down a lot?
yyyguy over 14 years ago
like Charles Shulz did 50 years of Peanuts.
bmonk over 14 years ago
ratlum said, about 20 classes ago
“A very rich man is quoted as say his schooling was a waste of time in his life All 3 years of it”
I have heard a church member say, about faith sharing, “I learned about my faith preparing for first communion. That’s enough for me. What do I need this faith sharing for?”
So, in two or three years of CCD, she learned everything. Good student!