For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for June 28, 2020

From It’s the Thought That Counts – the 15th anniversary collection. It features this comic strip and this commentary:

My dad’s other came to live with us when I was about ten. She had waist-length silver hair, which was always secured in a tightly braided bun.After washing it, she would stand on our back porch and brush it in the wind ‘til it was dry.For me, it was like watching Rapunzel. For just this instant, she wasn’t Grandma, but a storybook heroineHer hair was beautiful.My mother also let her hair grow down to her waist. It was thick golden brown. Like my grandmother, she always secured it tightly against her head, and she, too, went out onto the porch to let it dry.Ursula Ridgway was a strict disciplinarian. I guess she had to be!! So often we were at odds with one another…but out there, on the porch with her long hair billowing about her face, I could see the youth and the gentleness and the real spirit that was my mother.Later, when I was in my twenties, I let my hair grow down to my waist, and when I went out onto my balcony of my apartment to let it dry, I became one with these two women who were always a little distant, yet always so much a part of me.My mother cut her hair and kept her braid. So did I. She died in September 1989. Her hair is coiled neatly in a drawer and tied with a ribbon, next to mine.I took the braids out the other day and I plied them together. I thought how similar the colors were and I wished with all my heart that I could see her on that porch once again.

the apple falls not too far form the tree

What a lovely idea. Lucky for her it works! My hair goes down to my tush. If I tried to let the wind get hold of it… this Dead Mop would look like a Dust Devil got hold of it to practice macrame! ;)

And, history/family tradition, repeats itself. :)

My grandmother had long snow white hair, I loved watching while she brushed it, braided it and put it up on her head. My mother’s was short, black and curly and it was always tightly styled and sprayed. Mine was reddish brown and wavy. Now it’s greige and I’ve always worn it long. I like to let it dry outside but I don’t think my blonde daughter ever noticed.

I have waist length hair that I would love to do this to, but because it is wavy, it wouldn’t really work. The good thing is tho, if I let it air dry, I get beautiful waves and ringlets.

Not the same, but I used to sit on the floor by Granny’s bed while she brushed my hair, well into when I was an adult. Now my husband loves to brush my hair, it’s to my waist in some parts, trying to get it even! It brings Granny back to me every time he does..

moments that become memories

Now she comes full circle. Very nice!

One of my all time favorite♡. So poetic and sweet♡♡♡.

Sweet comic today. Mr. Pheets has been known to braid my long hair once in a while. Very cool for me to be able to say that, if asked : )

Damn this one got me all choked up. My mom too, had beautiful long hair.

My grandmother had long silver hair. I remember her bending forward to brush it, then put it in a bun on top of her head with a net to hold it. She said putting a band to it would make it fall out. Anyway I was saddened when at 90 something, she had it cut short. Easier to keep it up

My 15-year-old daughter has always loved my hair, which is waist-length. She will stand behind me and finger-comb it for as long as I let her (and, since I LOVE having my hair played with, it’s sometimes a matter of getting back to chores or whatever). Since the whole “social distancing” thing has started, she has taken to sleeping with me when my husband is at work (he’s a 3rd-shifter). I lay down, spread my hair out on the pillow behind me, and she lays on my hair. What’s funny is that she like wearing HER hair short (see picture).

My 22 year old daughter thought it was a good idea for her to pretty much shave her head. She said she got tired of all the hair care she had to go through. At first I hated it, but now, yeah, I still hate it.

Just before I read this I read FoxTrot.

There’s a Jewish saying, “L’dor v’dor.” “From generation to generation.”

Beautiful, just beautiful.

Lynn’s Comments:

I’ve told you about my grandmother coming to stay with us and taking my bedroom while she was visiting. She had waist-length hair, and when she washed it, she’d stand on the porch like this and brush her hair in the wind. Later, when I also had very long hair, I did the same thing. It made me think of her—every time.

That is a beautiful story, as is today’s comic. Thanks for sharing that!

I remember this strip when it originally aired.

What if the wind isn’t blowing?

Elly in a tube top. Interesting….

Of all the comic strips I read daily, I always save this one for last because it’s the best. What an endearing moment in life this one is today! Thank you Lynn!

I never wanted her more than today

Ironic that in real life, Lynn Johnston has a short butch haircut, more like Connie’s

Sometimes, a memory can be the most valuable treasure of our lives.

And so that memory is passed on from one generation to the next.

I’ve been waiting for this one to come ’round again.

This is so sweet!

Nice…

There nothing like a good memory

No! YOU’RE crying.

As I age, I think more about past and future generations-and the learning and passing on of the traditions which are a meaningful and symbolic part of our lives. I wondered where this one was going until I saw her daughter’s face in the window. Gotta admit it: instant tear up. Thanks, Lynn.

Feel like I’m hearing Enya’s “Sail Away” as I read this.