Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for March 30, 2019

Is this our last visit to Ballard Street?

" sigh "

Scooter rides off into the sunset.

So Scooter is JVA’s alter ego, Happy trails!

Weeeeeeeee!

I sincerely hope you enjoy your retirement as much as I’ve enjoyed your talent!! Have the most & the best fun! ♥♥♥♥♥

Scooter would be able to walk better if his chaps were properly adjusted.

Scooter says, “So long kids. I’m outa here!”

You’d be quite welcome to slip us a fresh one once in a while if that drawing hand gets twitchy.

Adios Amigos…..

I thought he’d be high-tailing out of here but I was wrong.

Fare thee well! and if for ever,

Still for ever, fare thee well:

(Byron)

Come back Scooter. Our days will be be a little bit empty without you.

I can think of no finer conclusion to our visit.

Wow, what a perfect strip to end on!

Adios, Scooter!

And if by any chance you can see this… I know it’s not likely….

Adios, Jerry Van Amerongen….. great job!

And THANK YOU!

It’s been a wonderful journey through the neighborhood!

 

As for the rest of you….

Don’t Go Away!

WE’RE NOT LEAVING!

The journey will continue.

 

Tomorrow there will probably be no new strip…. just because there are no new strips on Sundays.

But my guess is the reruns will start on Monday, and the forum will carry on as usual.

If I’m wrong, and they don’t start right away, come back to this page anyway,

while we decide where to post temporarily….

Or maybe we’ll just stay right here till it happens.

 

But they’re coming…. and if you haven’t read the old strips, it’ll be like having new ones, anyway…..

You’ll hardly notice the change.

So just stick around…. after all…..Ballard Street merchants still need your business!

 

Scooter may be running off, free at last…

but we’ll get to watch his younger antics for years yet,

even while letting him … and Jerry… enjoy a well-deserved break.

Happy trails, Scooter.

Perfect. I’m actually getting a little weepy here. Not that that says much. For the past 20 years, I’ve found I get weepy at the drop of a hat. Go ahead. Drop your hat and watch.

This is Jerry’s last rodeo. He’s retiring at age 79, after entertaining us with this great comic since 1991 (and another one called “The Neighborhood” for 10 years before that.) Hopefully GoComics will re-run Ballard Street from the beginning – I need a dose of these wonderful characters to start my mornings on the right note!

He could shed riders as easily as he shed fur.

Say it ain’t so, Joe!

Happy trails to you…..until we meet again.

Scooter.

Has had.

Enough.

I’m going to miss you, sir.

Really? NO!!!

Jerry, I hope you find as much enjoyment in your retirement as you have brought to us.

This ain’t Scooter’s first rodeo! ;o}

Thanks for all the laughs! Enjoy retirement!

Happy Trails Jerry, ( and you too, Scooter ). I hope you enjoy your well-earned retirement.On behalf of all the gang at the Tiki and me and my crew aboard my galleon The Irish Rover® currently moored in Ballard Bay, I want to sincerely Thank You for all the years of madcap humor and fun you brought into our days. You are truly a remarkable talent, a great cartoonist, and a very funny man.

Clear skies, calm seas, and fair sailing !

_______ Linguist, Machala, Ecuador

A Fiery dog with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty “Hi-yo Scooter. Away!” (Apologies to the Lone Ranger) We’re gonna miss ya.

Why no “YEE HAW”?

Heading off into the sunset at full gallop. Bye.

For the past 30-some years, The Neighborhood (then Ballard Street) was the ONE comic I read every day, without fail. Jerry’s humor so often hit the mark with me :)

Yippee Ki-yay. And what Linquist said.

Scooter’s off to join Calvin and Hobbes in eternal frolic. Git along, little doggie…

Happy Trails….

This comic has been the most fun of any other. I will miss new shenanigans on Ballard Street, but will enjoy reruns. Enjoy your retirement, Jerry! Ballard Street – always in our hearts. Love ya, Scooter. Perfect last comic.

Bon voyage, Jerry! Enjoy your retirement!

Perfect that the background is yellow – like he is heading into the sunset. Mosey on down the trail and Godspeed! Thanks Mr. Amerongen – you are a true Master at your craft!

A little teary here too! Have really loved this comic for so long. Thank you, Jerry, for your amazing talent and slightly wonky humor. All the best in your retirement! ♥

A recent newcomer.. and it has been fun reading and then trying to out-do other commentators. I hope there will be re-runs but if not.. Cheers to all.. will miss you and Ballard street.

Jerry, to say we will miss you is just to trifle with words. You are my favorite.

Enjoy your retirement . . . and thank you.

Happy Trails Scooter and Jerry!

Scooter, pass this way again soon, ok? At least, share some old biscuits with us!

Thank you Jerry! All the best! :)

Thank you, Jerry, for all the wonderful, well-drawn weirdness! Enjoy your retirement!

Looks like Scooter has the Irish blessing working for him, and hopefully for his creator…

May the road rise to meet you,

may the wind be ever at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face

A fitting finale for you and Scooter, Jerry. I hope you enjoy your days without deadlines. Know that your art will live on here with us, as we reacquaint ourselves with your earlier works. Thank you for sharing your awesome gift with us.

You know, I know they won’t, but GoComics ought to open up Ballard Street and give us all those things we could do awhile back, like embed pictures and videos, and much more “formatting” than bold and italics, so we can give this comic and its Creator a really proper send-off (for a little while, at least)… ☺

Aaaahhhh.

I believe that if I walk the sidewalks of my hometown long enough, Ill likely windup on Ballad Street.

Happy Retirement, Jerry! Thanks for the laughter.

happy retirement! this cartoon will be missed.

Hi Ho Buckaroo Jerry (as Scooter)! Gallop on outta here into the free blue air and have a great new life! No question, we’re all gonna miss you! Thanks for everything!

I want to ride to the ridge where the West commences

And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses

And I can’t look at hobbles and I can’t stand fences

Don’t fence me in

Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above

Don’t fence me in

Let me ride through the wide open country that I love

Don’t fence me in

—Cole Porter and Robert Fletcher

I came for the dogs and stayed for the humor and camaraderie. Thanks for making the world a better place.

Oh how I love this guy – makes me laugh out loud – have a splendid retirement!

Into the sunset we ride…