Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for September 17, 2012

Looks like a lot of “deer in the headlights”!

I don’t go to weddings for the ceremony, I go for the free cake.

It looks to me as the betrothed couple were drawn as when they were young. Maybe a “Rose is Rose” type symbol of feeling too YOUNG?

After what they put Janis through, they’d BETTER be prepared to tie the knot. No jitters allowed, MINUTES before the ceremony.

At the head of the aisle as my daughter was about to marry the wrong man, i asked her if she wanted to call it off and just turn the reception into a party. she declined with a laugh. years and one divorce later, I wish she’d taken me up on it. never suggest the kids Better get married for your sake.

GENE!!! Don…cha…GAAAH! Wipe that look off your face! (And yes, of course, freeholder1, you are absolutely 100% correct.)

Yay! I was afraid we had arrived late and missed everything! I should have known Jimmy wouldn’t start without us.

Was anyone else surprised by the minister giving his full name? Usually people in A&J just give their first name at first appearance, or none at all. Given that his vestments already identify him as the celebrant it seems a bit odd that he’d identify himself at all, wanting instead to keep the spotlight is on the couple.

This has the ring of something special to it. Maybe JJ has a minister friend named Jackson Reed who now gets to be immortalized as the one who married Gene & Mary Lou!

they put the cart before the horse. you don’t celebrate a touchdown till you cross the goal line. you don’t celebrate a marriage till one has taken place. Duh! i didn’t think anyone in the strip was religious at all. usually clergy won’t marry folks now unless you are a member of their congregation. if you don’t attend church why would you want a minister to preside at your wedding? also why get married at all in this day and age? there are more single folks than married, more single parents than married and more children born out of wedlock than to married folks.

Hope this is over soon.

A minister friend of mine said, “I see my job as to bring people together, not to keep them apart”. She also said, "There are two things I don’t do, ‘Who gives this woman,’ and ‘obey’ ". There are so many reasons I love this strip. Arlo asking Janis if she would like a second honeymoon and she replying “Is the first one over?” is one reason. I love that they still have the hots for each other after all these years. I never worried about Gene. I knew he was made of the right stuff when he stood by Mary Lou in her darkest times.

Again, I have a bad feeling about this. Ultimately, I say Mary Lou will be Gene’s first wife!

Reception BEFORE the wedding? Novel idea.

killjoy?? isnt the marriage supposed to be the joy- it sounds like he thinks marriage is a downerstrange vibe from the clergy or is it our author? who has for years put great joy into J and A marriage.

you make a point but other strips( Hi and Lois, PreTenna, Doonesbury) do show it’s characters in a church from time to time. i don’t begrudge the couple but wonder why given the odds they take the risk? i mean they only have a 50% chance of a long marriage but i wish them and all who try best of luck. they will need it.

Maybe this is Arlo and Janis renewing their vows – second honeymoon, etc.

Are the bride and groom ready? They don’t look ready.

Priceless.