For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for December 06, 2022

If you remember back a week ago, Elly told Sue that she had to take time off to take care of a sick April. Notice that of all the things Elly says to Sue, her boss, the one thing she does not say but thinks is that she was sick too. She does not want Sue to know that she lied to her about her reason to take off.

Now you may be thinking that Elly’s confession about reading 2 books, watching soaps and working on an Afghan would kind of give Sue the clue that Elly was not really taking care of a sick April. You have to remember that Sue is familiar with Elly’s parenting skills and so there would be no surprise for her with what Elly said she did during her week off.

Well, I was really bored out of my mine late April to early May this year when I was in COVID quarantine. Nothing much but watching YouTube videos. Of course some cleaning and sanitizing the place. Oh, and eating, sleeping, bathing, and getting dressed.

The original year of when Elly started the afghan was 1973. Original date of the strip was December 7, 1993.

…unless you are a railroad worker, I guess.

“Started” in 2003…. Just more confirmation that the strip is now supposed to be set in the present day of 2022, despite the insistence of some folks who insist that it’s still set in 1993..

Lynn’s Comments:

Here is where the “inflatable nose”” is evident. Whenever I wanted to show Elly at her worst, I drew her nose larger. I didn’t do this intentionally; it’s what came out of my pen! Since much of the strip was based on real life, I’ve always been grateful that my nose remains the same size—no matter what I’m thinking.

It’s the only way many Americans actually do take time off.

Sadly, getting sick is one of the easiest(if painful) ways to get healthy again.

As in the Beatles song: “Slow down, baby, now you’re movin’ way too fastYou gotta gimme little lovin’, gimme little lovin’Ow! If you want our love to last !”

“It’s Nature’s Way of telling you something’s wrong”

Actually, Elly still looks a little pale.

It’s so good to see that Elly was smart enough to stay home instead of infecting everyone at work. It would be nice if other people would do that as well for the good of all.

I do wonder what the difference is in starting an Afghan in 2003 than it was in 1973. Actually I don’t wonder as it makes zip, zero, nada difference. It’s just a contextual hurdle for some.

I ❤️ Sue! Nice to see her again.

I wish she had been given a bigger and more permanent rôle in the strip.

Quite true,but 18 month Covid vacation was overdoing it a little.Assuming you got through it reasonably intact.

Of course,everybody else piled their work on HER desk while she was away…..

define ‘stuff’ tia

I have mostly been home for 3 years. I had no intentions of getting covid, and my chances of avoiding it were good since I rarely get sick, have a great immune system, and walk outside for exercise every day and then my daughter had children. I babysat the first and then the second once a week. The younger one came one day with covid and shared. At least it was mild for me and for him, but not so much for the rest of his family, but all are well now. Being confined home alone for 2 weeks was no big deal to me at all, other than I was very low on food. Oddly, even with my self-imposed quarantine for so long, I do volunteer in a hospital where all kinds of diseases are treated. I wear a good mask, wear it well, and wear it all the time there. I have been out on occasion to see friends for meals and such, mostly outdoors when possible. This was my choice because I felt covid sounded so alien. When I got it, I still felt that way. It was not like anything I have ever had before. I even was walking outside every day with covid, and told my neighbors to stay back and why, but some just didn’t remember, and I took to wearing a mask outside until I felt entirely safe for people to be closer to me.

I’m always bored to tears when I’m sick.

She probably shouldn’t be back to work yet, she doesn’t look well. In fact the color seems to be completely drained from her face.

Her nose still looks pretty ripe.

Daytime TV — the corporate world’s way of encouraging you to get back to work when you’re home sick (this discovery made after spending five weeks sick at home with mono, approximately 26 years ago).

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. — Anne Lamott

Take the poll: Who had the biggest nose?

*Pinocchio {Pinocchio}

*Barbra Streisand {Nuts}

*Steve Martin {Roxanne}

*Lynn Johnston {For Better or for Worse}