2004apr04. My first time reading a newspaper in two years. Newspapers smell and are filled with ads. Today, the Family Circus has a one-panel color strip featuring Grandma speaking to the four Family Circus Childrens while a sun sets in the background. “There’s a precious cargo aboard that setting sun. It’s taking a part of each of our lives with it.” Powerful stuff. And then there’s a strip I’ve never heard of, “Pickles,” with this cheery sentiment: also powerful. I remember back in my day, mainstream comics tried to make us laugh – and failed. Now, cartoonists are more interested in the heavy stuff. Like old people, teaching young children about death. We’re all going to die, but we’re going to die first, because we’re older. If you remember one thing, Little Jimmy Jr., it’s that I’m about to croak. But when we die, someone else will take over our horrible comic strip, producing howls of agony from the populace at large. Here comes the death. Any second. I’m turning the pen over to my subordinates who are also not funny ... now.
