For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for December 21, 2024

I can’t believe Elly didn’t get pulled over for letting April sit in the front seat. Must be spirit of Christmas watching over them.

Back on Sunday August 2, 2020, Lynn Johnston had made a big deal about redrawing the comic strip for the reprint so that April would not be seated in front. Not so today. Possibly Elly is so self-absorbed in her thought balloons she forgot to remind Lynn to redraw it. The modern recommendation by the Canadian Division of Injury Prevention is to keep the kids in the back seat until they are over 12.

In the United States, 28 states in the US do not have a law on the books dictating a minimum age for kids to be able to sit in the front seat of a car. The recommendation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is 13 years of age, but there is no national law.

Elly forgot something: the birth of Jesus, prayers, and hymns.

From Lynn’s Comments: When you think about it…if it wasn’t for MOMS, there would be no Christmas!

With you, Elly!

I’ve heard it said that when you’re a kid Christmas seems to come every two years and when you’re an adult it comes every six months. Anyway, Merry Christmas to you all.

These days, once a year is too much for me, too many reminders of what I no longer have.

CUT! The line was “Too bad it only happens once a year!” From the top…

Amen Elly!

A feeling shared by many. I’m surprised our local Walmart hasn’t been playing any Christmas music like years past, which usually started just before Thanksgiving. Probably some atheist or non-christian conplained and it became a store/company policy – no Christmas music.

Different time I remember no seatbelts

Aren’’t we all, Elly?

Amen Elly. I got exhausted just reading this comic and my day hasn’t even started yet.

So are the rest of us that have any common sense.

This is also their first Farley-less Christmas. :(

It’s what makes this a special time of the year……

Sorry Edgar; they’re not for you. Sigh…

Christmas is what you, the individual makes it. You don’t have to go overboard in celebration. Every Christmas movie made, from “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation” to Dickins’ “A Christmas Carol” carries this moral.

We all crave the excitement, anticipation and euphoria we enjoyed (most of us enjoyed: disclaimer) as children over Christmas; but that wains as we become older and are tasked with providing this fantasy for others. It is better to relax and enjoy the peace as the original meaning of this gift of Christmas was given!\10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.Luke 2:10, 11, 14 (KJV)/

That’s why I hate songs that say, “Why can’t Christmas last the whole year?” No way; it’d be exhausting and become a chore. I know, I know, why can’t the feeling of Christmas last all year? Because the spirit of Christmas is often superficial. The spirit of Christianity is what should be year long.

Hit the nail on the Christmas head, Elly!

Such a busy time of year!

Only once a year — starting in August.

too much sadness, no more christmas here. too many family deaths and tragedies have occurred in the last week of the year. an old saying: “The curse of living a long life is seeing those you love go before you.”

It’ll be over in the blink of an eye, enjoy it!

It’s true, I love this season too. And it comes around just often enough, and lasts just long enough, to thread the needle and feel both familiar and special.