Arlo, don’t worry about it which will cause you start to worry about your status. When you hit this point they no longer see you. At least not until you start to wander away from your neighborhood in only a bathrobe.
It’s time to sit on the couch or the yard in good weather, and just have those coulda, woulda, shoulda thoughts about life.
Have they really had no contact with Gene since all this mess started? Otherwise why is he telling them all that they have done? You’d think they would have talked at least once a week. It’s not like it used to be when everybody had a land line and there were long distance charges, nite rates, weekend rates, etc.
I was a teenager when I started reading this strip in the 80’s. Gene was depicted as a little boy then, but not too much younger than myself. Now at 52, I’m clearly closer to Arlo’s age depiction than I am of Gene’s.
I’m with you Arlo – my second-born son was complaining to me a month ago about someone younger than him who was arguing with him about a social situation and said “you’re just a boomer, you wouldn’t understand”.(my son’s in his thirties) When he told me I laughed and told him “welcome to my world”
I remember when I was a summer camp counselor. I had a group of kids playing soccer while a boom box radio played. A Beatles song came on and some kids asked what group that was. Incredulously, I said, “The Beatles!” Another kid explained, “yeah, Paul McCartney’s old band.”
I’m not that crazy about growing old but, then, some of my friends didn’t get that privilege. When I think of that, it makes me appreciate being alive.
I will not be old until a doctor tells me, “If you were my granddad I’d recommend …,” because every frickin’ one of them is telling me what they’d recommend to their dads.
I was once visiting NYC. While strolling around Greenwich Village, feeling light and young at heart, I stopped in at a pizza place. The kid behind the counter said, “What’ll it be Pops?” Pops!? What a downer.
What blows my mind (a phrase that reveals my age anyway) is that the earliest presidential election I remember, that of John Kennedy, was 60 years ago. I graduated from high school 51 years ago? I started my career 50 years ago last month? That just ain’t right! It must be a hippie conspiracy! Danged long-haired hippies. Wait… I had long hair.
When I was fifty, I was on a boardwalk with my kids and they got me to go over to this guy that guesses ages. They figured he would say I was much younger. So did I. He took one quick look and said, fifty.
I mentioned my youngest sister who is 12 years younger than me in another post – possibly on another day. My other sister (between the two of us) and I (the oldest) still refer to her as “the baby” and sometimes treat her as such. (Police called husband and me about mom at 4 am and we had to run her house to go to the hospital with her. I called the middle sister to let her know and we both agreed we should call “the baby” we would let her know the next day – why wake her also. One day a short while later it dawned on me that “the baby” is 56.
One day decades ago a co-worker and I went to lunch. I was in my 20s. He was in his 50s. The waitress came over and asked “What will you kids have?” He said “Wow, I haven’t been called a kid in ages.” The waitress and her sister, both in their 80s, owned the restaurant. To them, he qualified as a kid.
Ahuehuete about 4 years ago
Welcome to geezervile, Arlo.
SpacedInvader Premium Member about 4 years ago
Wow! That hit smarts. Kind of puts things in perspective.
Robin Harwood about 4 years ago
That’s it, Arlo. Nothing for you now except to crumble away where you’re sitting.
hawgowar about 4 years ago
Macaulay Culkin just turned 40. I feel ancient.
admiree2 about 4 years ago
Arlo, don’t worry about it which will cause you start to worry about your status. When you hit this point they no longer see you. At least not until you start to wander away from your neighborhood in only a bathrobe.
It’s time to sit on the couch or the yard in good weather, and just have those coulda, woulda, shoulda thoughts about life.
Strod about 4 years ago
Oooooooh, young adults! I thought he was talking about Meg, and that seemed sooooo wrong!
nosirrom about 4 years ago
When it comes to intergenerational attitudes 30 is the new 40.
Charliegirl Premium Member about 4 years ago
Boy, that’s gotta make A&J feel ancient, lol.
DorothyGlenn Premium Member about 4 years ago
I can recall when the “man” at the store counter became the "kid"at the store counter. I stood there for a min going “what the… just transpired”?
Tyge about 4 years ago
Wren I was 16 some “little kid” called me “Mister.” I was shocked. “Mister” was my Dad!
ScullyUFO about 4 years ago
The first day you are NOT asked for ID at the liquor store. Very distressing.
Ralph Newbill about 4 years ago
And that’s how you know a new generation has come into the world.
HunterIsACriminal about 4 years ago
And what does that make us Arlo?
SusanSunshine Premium Member about 4 years ago
I remember when my nephew was first teaching freshman English, in a university.
He must have been about 25, but his students were 18 and 19.
He complained to me about “kids today” and how unprepared they were for college classes.
I was so startled!
He saw the look on my face…
and I had to laugh.
It was the first time I realised that in his mind, he and college freshmen weren’t roughly the same age.
Silverbear07 about 4 years ago
The kids know the truth. Lol
jarvisloop about 4 years ago
“Youth is an exclusive club" – either Paul Zindel or S.E. Hinton.
Michael G. about 4 years ago
Westbrook van Voorhis is on the phone with a reminder, Arlo.
jonesbeltone about 4 years ago
Gene and M.L. are making all the right moves-hope it works for them.
bobbyferrel about 4 years ago
They’re all kids from where I am. But then, age is just a number. A really, really big number.
John Leonard Premium Member about 4 years ago
Well, considering as the strip started in ‘85 and Gene was a little kid then, I’d guess he’s pushing 40 pretty hard now.
Life’s a Beach about 4 years ago
My youngest was telling me something the other day about “kids today”…my YOUNGEST!!!
gypsywolf59 about 4 years ago
Have they really had no contact with Gene since all this mess started? Otherwise why is he telling them all that they have done? You’d think they would have talked at least once a week. It’s not like it used to be when everybody had a land line and there were long distance charges, nite rates, weekend rates, etc.
C C about 4 years ago
I was a teenager when I started reading this strip in the 80’s. Gene was depicted as a little boy then, but not too much younger than myself. Now at 52, I’m clearly closer to Arlo’s age depiction than I am of Gene’s.
seismic-2 Premium Member about 4 years ago
Owning a business and raising a daughter Meg’s age gives Gene the right to think of young adults as “kids”.
Saddenedby Premium Member about 4 years ago
I’m with you Arlo – my second-born son was complaining to me a month ago about someone younger than him who was arguing with him about a social situation and said “you’re just a boomer, you wouldn’t understand”.(my son’s in his thirties) When he told me I laughed and told him “welcome to my world”
Thanksfortheinfo2000 about 4 years ago
I remember when I was a summer camp counselor. I had a group of kids playing soccer while a boom box radio played. A Beatles song came on and some kids asked what group that was. Incredulously, I said, “The Beatles!” Another kid explained, “yeah, Paul McCartney’s old band.”
Colorado Expat about 4 years ago
My moment was when my son announced that he needs reading glasses…
LoneDog about 4 years ago
I’m not that crazy about growing old but, then, some of my friends didn’t get that privilege. When I think of that, it makes me appreciate being alive.
poppacapsmokeblower about 4 years ago
I have redefined old.
I will not be old until a doctor tells me, “If you were my granddad I’d recommend …,” because every frickin’ one of them is telling me what they’d recommend to their dads.
flagmichael about 4 years ago
I’m still trying to comprehend that I have great-grandchildren… my 44 year old son has grandchildren. I would say “this ain’t right” but it is.
42ntson about 4 years ago
I can relate Arlo
LoneDog about 4 years ago
I was once visiting NYC. While strolling around Greenwich Village, feeling light and young at heart, I stopped in at a pizza place. The kid behind the counter said, “What’ll it be Pops?” Pops!? What a downer.
flagmichael about 4 years ago
What blows my mind (a phrase that reveals my age anyway) is that the earliest presidential election I remember, that of John Kennedy, was 60 years ago. I graduated from high school 51 years ago? I started my career 50 years ago last month? That just ain’t right! It must be a hippie conspiracy! Danged long-haired hippies. Wait… I had long hair.
KEA about 4 years ago
I share Arlo’s pain.
JoHo Premium Member about 4 years ago
Here ya go, this is what everybody is talking about today.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj-DSlnDQrA
DCBakerEsq about 4 years ago
I’m the guy your parents warned you about.
paranormal about 4 years ago
His little boy has grown up!
Scoutmaster77 about 4 years ago
I think of anyone half my age as a “kid.” :-)
Thinkingblade about 4 years ago
I remember the first time I was in a situation and someone called me sir. All of a sudden someone ELSE thought I was an adult!
Out of the Past about 4 years ago
When I was fifty, I was on a boardwalk with my kids and they got me to go over to this guy that guesses ages. They figured he would say I was much younger. So did I. He took one quick look and said, fifty.
mafastore about 4 years ago
I mentioned my youngest sister who is 12 years younger than me in another post – possibly on another day. My other sister (between the two of us) and I (the oldest) still refer to her as “the baby” and sometimes treat her as such. (Police called husband and me about mom at 4 am and we had to run her house to go to the hospital with her. I called the middle sister to let her know and we both agreed we should call “the baby” we would let her know the next day – why wake her also. One day a short while later it dawned on me that “the baby” is 56.
tcviii Premium Member almost 4 years ago
I decided I was old when I realized my kids were over 40.
tcviii Premium Member almost 4 years ago
One day decades ago a co-worker and I went to lunch. I was in my 20s. He was in his 50s. The waitress came over and asked “What will you kids have?” He said “Wow, I haven’t been called a kid in ages.” The waitress and her sister, both in their 80s, owned the restaurant. To them, he qualified as a kid.