Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Tags: cartoon physics, it can always get worse, up, up, and away, optimism, helium, balloon, jet, life, Worse, remarkable, bad. Add Tags

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margueritem said, 4 months ago

I’ve heard people say that…
Johanan Rakkav said, 4 months ago

Calvin, I was thinking about those options days ago…what took you so long?

Well, now we know the balloon contains helium, not hydrogen.
Ivy0730 said, 4 months ago

“it’s never so bad that it can;t get worse”
kreole said, 4 months ago

Aahhh, perspective….looking down at civilization where people appear like ants scurrying around. I need a drink…..
Yukoner said, 4 months ago

One day as I sat sad and weary,

feeling lonely and forlorn,

A little bird came along and said,

“Cheer up, things could be worse.

So I cheered up

And sure enough

Things got worse.
Gweedo Murray said, 4 months ago

The jet intake sounds so Calvinistic.
yyyguy said, 4 months ago

@Yukoner: Murphy was an optimist.
and a pessimist is only pleasantly surprised.
Ronshua said, 4 months ago

AH….Expressed optimism to sooth the lofty ones elevated soul .
baslim_the_begger said, 4 months ago

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless falls of air…
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, nor eer eagle flew –
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high, untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

High Flight John Gillespie Magee,
Wildmustang1262 said, 4 months ago

Calvin, enjoy flying with that balloon around the world in any day!
Puddleglum2 said, 4 months ago

…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Philippians 4:11b
watcha said, 4 months ago

thanks @Yukoner!!!!
Puddleglum2 said, 4 months ago

Conversely, it’s never so good that it can’t get better…
in heaven.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.
I Timothy 6:6
Puddleglum2 said, 4 months ago

Gweedo Murray said,
The jet intake sounds so Calvinistic.

Ultimately, God is in control.
That sounds Calvinistic, also.
Puddleglum2 said, 4 months ago

How did Calvin get upright? Yesterday he was upside down. I didn’t like the state in which he was, yesterday.
Puddleglum2 said, 4 months ago

…Where never lark, nor e’er eagle flew-
nor ducks…
I hope Calvin doesn’t quack up…or down (to earth).
Puddleglum2 said, 4 months ago

How can Calvin not recognize the state in which he is?
Is he in a state of confusion?

If Calvin is a mile above the mile-high city (Denver, CO), he can wave to my daughter and family in Aurora.
LX013 said, 4 months ago

I’m happy it’s better again for Calvin today! I was so sorry yesterday!
Puddleglum2 said, 4 months ago

Things are still up in the air, though.

If Calvin can “put out his hand and touch the face of God”, he’ll know God is watching over him.
“My heavenly father watches over me.”
Puddleglum2 said, 4 months ago

There’s a large bird approaching (in panel 4). Maybe Calvin
can snuggle up to him and let the balloon go.
“Under his wings I am safely abiding”
Let go and let God…
Puddleglum2 said, 4 months ago

I thought this was a “panel” discussion.
Is almost everybody asleep?
(Get) up and at ‘em! The early bird gets the worm!
Maybe soon we can say “The worm has turned”, which means ‘an unfavorable situation has been reversed’,
and Calvin will be in a better ‘state’.
Ronshua said, 4 months ago

Php 4:12 I know what it is to be humbled, and I know what it is to have in excess. In any and every situation I have learned both to be filled, and to be hungry, both to have in excess, and to be in need.
Lewreader said, 4 months ago

Cheer up, Calvin. Now that you got your pants back on, nothing can go wrong, unless Hobbs comes along to help you
Santadon said, 4 months ago

Some additional perspective for our wearying sojourner - Calvin….
Isaiah 40:31 (The Message)

“27-31Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind.”
Wait buddy, wait!
Avolunteer said, 4 months ago

enough with the bible quotes. I sincerely doubt that this is what Mr Watterson was intending!
On a more positive note; I can’t wait to see the reality!
Yukoneric said, 4 months ago

Don’t become SNARGE. That’s a bird that was sucked through a jet engine.
jweb1510 said, 4 months ago

avolunteer, if you don’t like it, don’t read it. It’s pretty simple. But no, based on what I know about Mr. Watterson during his C&H days, he probably was not particularly interested in the Bible either.

Calvin’s quote in panel 4 is very deep, actually.
j42case said, 4 months ago

Panel 4 indicates that Calvin is in love with his life. If he could only get beyond that, then he truly would be free.
somebodyshort said, 4 months ago

For my brothers surprise 30th birthday he was given a lawn chair, a rope as a seat belt, a big bag of balloons. Also a dart gun to act as an altitude controller. Lots of laughs but we didn’t make him fly. Would have been a splat of the balcony.

There is some body in Colorado or some where out there that does fly with helium balloons and a lawn chair.
CarolinaGirls said, 4 months ago

…I have actually appreciated the quotes this morning. Thank you, Santadon and Puddleglum2! Going through a rough patch myself.
Macushlalondra said, 4 months ago

I’ve often told myself the same thing when things aren’t going well. Try to think of the worst state you could be in, maybe after hearing about someone who’s very sick, dying, has been in a terrible accident, has lost everything in a fire, is now homeless, or has been sent to prison, the possibilities are endless. Then you won’t feel your own situation is so bad.
Calvinator said, 4 months ago

The other lesson here is that you can never get a kid to give up a balloon.
TapiocaHead said, 4 months ago

Up!
cpm.cappy said, 4 months ago

Calvin brings me back to 4th grade (the mid 70’s) when everything was an adventure. I wonder if my imagination was as good as Calvin’s. And I hope my son’s imagination is even better, though I worry that kids today have their imaginations stifled by lack of personal freedom and unsupervised outside adventures. I love seeing Calvin every morning. Thanks Bill Watterson.
Ldywldkat said, 4 months ago

Thanks for the 2 quotes this morning. They both made my day better,

I beleive Mr. Watterson wanted to evolke both laughter and thoughtfulness with his cartoons so I believe he would enjoy each and every comment made about them.

Kat
Fer Lefer said, 4 months ago

Well… I suppose that Calvin’s thoughts are beyond playing trumpet in Dad’s ear on a Saturday morning…
unemandarine said, 4 months ago

Hang in there Calvin!
hagarthehorrible said, 4 months ago

now come on! This thing is stretching a more than required. Calvin’s much more fun when on terra firma!!
CogentModality said, 4 months ago

At the risk of being anti-climatic - “Where there’s life, there’s hope.”
BC13 said, 4 months ago

hagar,

I suspect this will all end tomorrow. I, for one, can’t wait for the wrap-up. Since I don’t remember this, I too, wonder what the reality is.
bald 716 said, 4 months ago

as a kid i used to dream of flying, but it was more like a bird soaring, never traveling with a single balloon
Puddleglum2 said, 4 months ago

“Must I be carried to the sky
On flowery beds of ease
While others false do win the prize
And sail through bloody seas

There shall I take my weary soul
In seas of heavenly rest
And not a wave of trouble roll
Across my peaceful breast”
jamesvem said, 4 months ago

You all have certainly “lifted” my spirits today. The poetry here is awesome.
Boozer said, 4 months ago

HASN’T ANYBODY NOTICED THE BIRD COMING?
ninmas said, 4 months ago

mr. watterson, you have created a strip that outclasses all others, they don’t make em like they used to, i am proud of you that you retired to save your strip from getting repetetive.
midiranger said, 4 months ago

Somebodyshort – I believe that was in Oregon, and he “flew” 100+ miles on the wind before landing.
I think Watterson wold have appreciated the comments (and the poetry) today . .
Susan001 said, 4 months ago

Hey, where the hell is the news media? Surely someone had noticed a kid soaring high with a toy balloon and notified the press.
Of course, Fox News would probably put an anti-Obama slant on the story.
Gweedo Murray said, 4 months ago

With SNARGE comes FOD*

Foreign Objects Damage*
Leonardeuler said, 4 months ago

Yes Boozer. As we all can see, it’s a peregrine falcon. Poor Calvin………
saturntv said, 4 months ago

I’ve lost enough helium balloons in my childhood to know that balloon is eventually going to pop. Or that bird over there could puncture a hole in his balloon first.