Peanuts by Charles Schulz for January 29, 2019

If I were Sally Brown’s pen pal, I’d tell her I don’t know my second cousins. Only some of my first cousins once removed (my first cousins’ kids) and twice removed (their grandchildren).

You forgot their pets.

“I don’t know where to stop without offending someone.” In 2019, Sally, the time to stop is before you say a word.

Everything is relative, Sally.

This comic is so apt today!

Ah, but which cousins? Language is a reflection of our culture. I have two nephews: one is my sister’s son, the other is the son of my wife’s sister. One is a blood relation the other is related only through marriage.

Other languages make a distinction and they even have words for parents of my son’s wife. I guess the English don’t put as much emphasis on extended family as other cultures do. Or they just decided that the language is robust enough that we could throw enough words together to describe the relationship.

Are there people who still do “pen” pals?

How come Sally’s pen never leaks like CB’s?

Charles M Schulz foresaw the 21st century way, way back in 1972… who knew but him? :-P

These days it’s the opposite problem: No matter what you say, you will offend somebody, somewhere.

Doesn’t matter, these days, nobody reads or writes in cursive.

Back then, it was a LOT less easy…

Tweet instead.

That’s why the South came up with “how’s your family and them?” :)

I have that problem sometimes. I am better now.