Stone Soup by Jan Eliot for July 26, 2020

Thank you for a fun ride Jan Eliot! What a great way to end it! Now you’ve got all the August there is, enjoy it! <3

Dear Ms. Eliot,

During this month, I read through the entire Stone Soup archive, including the comments for my favorite current comic strip. I enjoyed your use of stories in the background of strips, such as the battles between Luci and Max for the pacifier while the adults talk. The Holly-Alix relationship struck me as being real; my favorite arc was one of those (Alix volunteers to write Holly’s book report on Tom Sawyer).

I can just imagine Holly now. “Jan, I need you to make me famous! Al Jaffee kept working until he was 99 – you can keep this up for three more decades!” How would Holly know about Al Jaffee? Easy – in my mind, I can see Alix reading MAD magazine.

Thank you for the past twenty-five years of cartoons, and may you leap into an even longer and happier retirement, even if some of us do selfishly want Holly’s desire to come true.

Sob! Thanks for so many years with this delightful cast of characters. May your retirement bring you much joy, and may you stay forever August.

They have said it all. Will miss the Stone family a lot. May retirement be all you want. You deserve it Sob from me also.

I’ll miss this. Enjoy retirement!!

I’m really going to miss this strip!!! Enjoy every bit of your retirement!!!

Goodbye, thank you so much!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwCuJaZsIfI

enjoy retirement Ms. Jan Eliot

Good luck and Godspeed!

Goodbye, and thank you.

Dear Ms. Jan, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I have enjoyed your comic strip for many, many years. Thank you for the laughs and good advice throughout the strips. I’m going to miss you!

Just recently I read your July 11, 2004 comic strip. And btw Holly, Alix and a reader’s comment I recognized advice that though I already knew it, became clearer…

“My take away— if your happiness depends on your actions you will be happier than if you depend on others to make you happy.”

Long story short, I will remember YOU and forge my way forward!

Goodbye to all my friends at Stone Soup. You will be missed.

I hate endings. [grump]

Thanks for all the laughs and for the reminders of those special times.

I think I’m going to really miss new Stone Soups. Thanks for all the years you gave us.

I’m going to miss Alix in her pool imagining all the sea creatures in it. The imagination of a child, such a pure thing. Will miss you Jan, happy retirement. XOX

All good things come to an end… Thank you. xoxo

Rats, about half the strips I like are ending or are in reruns.

So long and thanks for all the fish — in Alix’s pool! Fun characters! Have as much fun as Jan’s mom in retirement!

Thank you!

Thank you Jan for all the great times

W O W ! ! !

thanks for the years you gave us, the readers, a laugh. Enjoy.

I suppose it’s a bit bittersweet for this to be my 50th birthday! I was sad when the daily strip was discontinued. I am a bit sad today also. Hope you enjoy your Augusts, Ms Eliot – for decades to come…

Good luck with your retirement, Jan. Travel far and wide, collect more wisdom, and relax!

Enjoy your retirement Jan. Everyone will be sure to miss your comics, but none of us will ever forget it. Thank you for all of the laughs.

Thank you!

Great strip! Thank you.

Cheers, Jan! Thanks for all the laughs! More than I can count. Godspeed!

Thank you for the laughs and tears, Jan, have a wonderful retirement! And thanks for letting us know who the girls would be in future :)

Dearest Jan, I can think of nothing to add to all of the above comments. Enjoy your retirement while you can and hopefully you will be able to travel soon. :) I am 77 now so I understand very well why you need to enjoy some leisure now. :) Are you going to have a blog or perhaps share some Facebook appearances with a few of your loyal fans?

Jan, thank you for all of your years of hard work that I have admired for years!! I’ve loved all of the family but most especially Evie who gives me a vision that aging can mean that the last third of my life can be even more fulfilling than the first two thirds & that romance is still possible. I pray that your retirement is all that you want it to be & that it brings you as much joy as you have brought us. God Bless & Happy rest of your life!!! (selfish gentle weeping)

Will miss your insights. Enjoy!

God bless you, Ms Eliot. I will miss you. Thank goodness I have your books and I can still visit.

this is great! what a way to finish the strip. Thanks for all the great comics!

Sigh…. just sigh. Best wishes Jan!

The weakest part of this otherwise great strip was the I love August stuff.

I’m going to miss this great adventure… they are one of my favorite families! Have a wonderful August and thanks for the great times, Jan Eliot!

Well, it’s going to be a little more lonely without you Jan but I’ve got the archives and your books. Enjoy your retirement and stay well.

Thanks for the laughs and smiles Jan! Enjoy your life with no more deadlines!!!! I’m going to enjoy Stone Soup Classics for many more years!!!!

I will miss your “family” very much. Thank you for what you have shared. I wish you all the happiness going forward, that you have brought to everyone else in the past.

My heart aches, as it did when I said goodbye to Calvin and Hobbes. Thank you Jan, for giving us such real people to know and love over these years. August will never be the same….

Thanks, Jan!

Gotta Love it.

You and Alix leaping into August – what a way to close this wonderful saga! Thank you for years of insight into humanity with lots of laughter. I wish you a long and happy and fulfilling retirement!

You will be missed.

A sad day for us

So long and thank you for Stone Soup!!! I will miss everyone!

I’m going to miss the gang! Have a great retirement, Jan, and happy travels once it can be done safely again!

Thank you, Jan. All the best❣️

Will miss my favorite comic.

And there you go!

Give ‘em heck Jan!!!!

Thank you , Jan. Enjoy your retirement, may every month be August.

Good Luck Ms. Eliot and Thankyou for all the wonderful stories.

….So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish….

What a fitting end. You will be missed Ms. Eliot, loved your SS family. Enjoy your life of no deadlines. Really sad you are gone. Yet thank you for allowing us to have SS of Classics to keep your past strips going. Feel very sad no more originals and happy you need your life. Your characters you created will always be with you, just not with us. God bless you Ms. Eliot. Happy Trails to you.

I will miss these strip! :’(

Well Ms. Eliot, it’s been real, it’s been nice and it HAS been real nice! And I agree, thanks for all the fish, those were some of my favorites too. Enjoy August and all the other months in between.

Thank you, Jan for a new experience! I’ve never cried reading a comic strip before. Alix, Holly… I feel like I lost my own kids.

How delightful!

Best wishes. Good luck. I enjoyed the ride and will miss the gang.

Miss you already

Than you, Jan (hmm, does she read her comments?). Why are there tears in my eyes? “It’s just a cartoon!” Because when good things change, it affects us. Imagine that! The effect you’ve had on us all has been long—and for the good. You deserve the best in your retirement.

Yay! Good for you Jan. What a brilliant way to end your strip. I always enjoyed the “Ya gotta love August!” strips and stole the idea for a series of Facebook posts one year. Thank you for all the joy and insights.

By Jan. Thanks for all the wonderful moments and have a great retirement.

Thank you Jan!

and i was hoping it would go back weekly

Ms. Eliot- Thanks for the laughs and even more thanks for the things that make you go Hmmmmm. Please please please keep us entertained with reruns!

Thank you Jan! It was a wonderful run. I hope whatever life brings you next is as fine as kiddy pool in the middle of the yard surrounded by loving family. Loved every moment with you and the stone soup gang. ❤️

Thanks for 25 years of smiles and laughter. Enjoy retirement. I’ll continue to enjoy the re-runs.

Enjoy your retirement, Jan!

Thanks, Jan, for many years of fun with the Stone family. I’ll miss them all (I’m having fun with the reruns of the earlier strips, too; they’re up to the year 2000 now). Enjoy a well-earned retirement.

I will miss you as well

Sad to see you go, but what a lovely ending!

I guess I just wish she gave us a glimpse into the future of Wally, Joan, Andy, Max and Lucy as well. Though I loved where she sent Val and family. I hate to see this strip end. I wish Jan many beautiful Augusts ahead.

Great send off. Wishing you joy, you certainly brought us plenty of it over the years. Thanks!

Bye, Jan! Many thanks for a gentle, funny strip.

Thanks for all the enjoyment your strips have provided over the years.

Bye, Jan! Thanks for the laughs and best of luck on your ongoing ventures!

Thanks and enjoy, because every month will be August from here on out!

Thanks for the laughs, the “facepalm” moments, and the “yup, I know that’s right” parts. Come down South sometime. You can extend August to September. :)

A very optimistic outlook for August! I’m new to your strip but will continue to read your “Stone Soup Classics.” God Bless and enjoy your retirement!

Nothing I can add that hasn’t been said, but thank you for the laughs, have truly enjoyed this strip. Enjoy your August, enjoy your retirement, enjoy your life!!

Adieu!

Seems fitting that Alix is with her at the end….always thought she was Jan’s alter ego.

Thank you, Jan. This was a very fitting end strip. I have enjoyed Stone Soup for so long. It is going to be so strange to not have new ones. Best wishes in your retirement, and have the same happiness you have brought all of us.

Thank you for illustrating the humor and complexities of life for all ages. Now, do what you inspired some of the rest of us ‘oldsters’ to do—live your dreams and enjoy your life.

Thank you so verymuch for your wonderful strip!

I’m going to miss this strip!! Thank you for a wonderful ride!!!! Enjoy your next adventure!!!!!

So silly that I’m crying over a comic strip. Enjoy

Enjoyed your comics; sorry to see you go.

Thank you for your wonderful strip! And a Happy August and Fantastic Retirement to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Jan, for years of a wonderful comic strip.

Thank you for the joy that you brought into everyone’s life

Thank you Jan. I have enjoyed them all.

Reboot? Reruns?

Those poor kids.. They were just growing up

A simple THANK YOU just doesn’t seem adequate but it’s all I’ve got. Good Luck and Best Wishes in all you do,

thank you for everything, and good luck in your future

Thank you & God Bless! :^D

We’re going to miss you! Enjoy your retirement!

Farewell Stone Soup, and good travels Jan Eliot. Thank you for the years of entertainment.

I can see why Jan didn’t want any replacement cartoonists, if 4/1/1997 is anything to go by…

https://www.gocomics.com/stonesoup/1997/04/01 (drawn by Glenn McCoy of “The Duplex”)

(What was Jan doing that day? https://www.gocomics.com/thebuckets/1997/04/01)

Enjoyed your comic strip so much, and will miss it so much. Good Luck and God Bless

Thank you Ms. Eliot! Enjoy your well deserved retirement. Now it would be cool for the classics to start at day 1.

Nachikethass said it so well! I think most of us hope you enjoy this August and all Augusts to come! Thanks for the good times!

Have a wonderful retirement. We will miss your wonderful humor and insights. Thanks for all your work.

I’m going to miss you.

But, i do understand. I’m looking forward to joining you in retirement just as soon as i am able.

Enjoy! I plan to too. :D

Thanks for helping to make the world a little better place through your humor and talent all these years. If you ever have a day where you question if you did, or are feeling down, come back and read today’s comments. Wishing you a happy well deserved retirement

Original end to a great strip! I was expecting a final panel of the whole family and Jan waving good-bye. Enjoy retirement, we’ll keep revisiting your classic strips on a daily basis for years to come.

Gonna miss you but have fun.

What a way to end the Stone Soup strip after 25 years, Jan!

Stone Soup joins these newspaper comic strips to end in 2020: The Pajama Diaries, Ask Shagg, Retail, Moose and Molly, and Cats with Hands.

What a perfect ending to Stone Soup! Thank you, Jan. May you enjoy Augusts for many years to come!

This was a lovely family comic strip and so relatable on many different levels. Thanks Ms. Elliot for sharing your talents for so many years.

Dear Jan, For years of smiles, laughs, deep thoughts and a tear or two, thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts.

Just couldn’t leave it alone, could they? Had to dig up that dead horse and beat it one final time.

I liked this strip, but won’t miss the “gotta love August” drivel.

Have a wonderful retirement! And thank you for helping mine to have been as wonderful as it has been so far! Hugs to you. Wait…still isolating…so elbow bumps to you!

Thank you for the years of laughter – enjoy your retirement.

Enjoy retirement — trust me it’s great to have every day be Saturday

May you enjoy a long, happy and fulfilling retirement. And may you enjoy it as much as we (I hope!) are going to enjoy reading all the Stone Soup re-runs! (I hope the newest ones will find their way into a book, like so many of the older tales.) Thanks for all the pleasure you’ve given so many of us over the years.

What they said.

https://www.registerguard.com/entertainment/20200724/cafe-541-eugenersquos-jan-eliot-retires-lsquoheart-of-cityrsquo-to-replace-lsquostone-souprsquo

They are both jumping into Alix’s fantasy world,Have fun with all them octopuses, sharks, and all them mystery deep sea creatures.It was a nice ride, we’ll miss ya.

It’s time to head over to Tina’s restaurant. Tina is waiting there with Calvin and Hobbes, Charlie Brown and Snoopy, Pogo and his friends, Betty Boop, the little king and about 50 others. They are all waiting to welcome you home. You will be in great company. Farewell.

Thanks for all your talent Enjoy your retirement

Meh.

I love the loving August finale. That and the Solstice theme ones were among my favorites. We will miss you very much!

Thanks, Jan. I will miss you.

I am sooooo going to miss this strip. Best of luck in retirement!!

One of my favorite comics

I totally understand wanting to retire – I’ve done that already. I still wish you weren’t going. I have enjoyed this strip for years!!! Thank you for all of it. I wish you lots of sleep, peace and happiness!!

Enjoy your retirement! Unfortunately, this means one of the pleasures of mine is no more. But there are reruns, I hope.

Why is it that the funniest cartoonists with the best ideas retire their strips, while some strips that haven’t produced a single chuckle in 10 years go on…and on… and on…and on? Really gonna miss this one a lot.

Thank you. They will be missed.

Jan certainly ended this in a classy, honest and heartfelt way. I hope she really enjoys her retirement; it’s well earned!

Get out there and enjoy life, Jan! But, I must warn you…..I tried retirement a couple of years ago. It didn’t work. Creative people need a place to show their creativity. I’m back to being partially retired.

I’ve enjoyed your strip for many years, and sad to see it end. Best wishes for a long, happy, and healthy retirement from Cajun boy.

Happy trails, Jan. Thanks for the toons.

Sorry, but I hope you get bored.

I especially enjoyed the August comics!

Thank you, wishing everyone Evie-days.

Enjoy your retirement Jan. You have brightened up so many people’s days for the last 25 years. I’m really going to miss this comic.

Thank you so much for all the years of thoughtful, tender, sweet, realistic, inspiring and funny comics. You and your “family” will be VERY much missed!

:’-(

I hope you enjoy August and the rest of your life. This was such a sweet way to end your wonderful strip. I’ll miss all of your “family” but am glad to see it being repeated so I won’t suffer complete withdrawal . Thank you for the years of enjoyment.

I guess it is now time go re-read the (autographed) Stone Soup book.

Hopefully, after a respite period, you will do us all a kindness and follow Trudeau’s model of punctuating reruns with periodic updated peeks into how the family is doing as they grow and age along with the rest of us. It’s become such a rich world, it’s impossible not to wonder where they all will evolve to.

May every month be August for the rest of your days!

happy birthday and enjoy your retirement. i wonder now if gocomics will run this comic from the beginning.

Mixed emotions. Sad for us – no more comics. But happy for Jan and her retirement/new adventures!

Enjoy!

Of course it’s been a great strip that will be missed — But the 7 week exit-path story has been unique and so creative! Thank you and congrats for that!

Thank you for sharing your family/alter egos with us. I’ve identified with all but most lately with Evie. Stay safe and healthy and enjoy your adventures.

Happy retirement, Ms.Eliot! I will miss your strip – especially the Gotta Love August strips and Alix and her magical pool (as a biologist, I always hoped those strips would foster a love of biology in kids!). ♥

Thank you so much for all the years of your wonderful comic. I started reading it when I had an infant, and I found it so relatable. Yours is the only comic I read, so I think I will go back and start at the beginning. Now that my sons are 11 and 14, and I am a single mom, I imagine I will find new things to relate to!

This has been 1 of my favorite comic strips and I’m gonna miss it, but Stone Soup Classics will continue.

Thank you! I am really going to miss visiting with everyone every Sunday……

Oh — and if you get bored in retirement, you’re always welcome back here with us!

Best wishes Jan.

I’m going to miss this. Enjoy yourself Ms Eliot, and thanks for the fun over the years.

I have so enjoyed reading this strip. Made me smile, laugh and now she’d a tear. I hope you enjoy retirement. You done well. You’ve bought that piece of enjoyment to many.

Ms. Eliot, thank you for the giggles. You made life fun.

Have loved your strip, but wishing you all the best in your retirement!

Thank you, Jan, for years of great entertainment. Sadly, it’s time to unfollow this strip.

And a perfect way to finish. Happy retirement!

I can’t remember when I started reading Stone Soup, but it was quite a while ago. I’m really going to miss it, especially every August! Retirement is great, Jan. You’re going to love it!!

Bbbbbyyyyyeeeeee! we’ll miss you <3

Thanks for all the wonderful comic strips you made, they really enjoyed my life, best wishes

Ah, August – the summer month of day dreams and adventures.

Thank You, Jan, for a most wondrous ride through the years.

May your retirement be even more wonderful than your cartoons!

Thank you.

Best wishes for your new life!! Boy you will be missed by SO VERY MANY!!

I’m just here to dance on the grave.

Jan, I’m going to miss you and the inside of your head!! Enjoy whatever life tosses at you…you deserve it!

As exit lines AND callbacks… That’s not bad. Good rest, Ms. Elliot.

Thanks for laughs.

So long and thanks for all the fish, Jan! Especially those at the bottom of Alix’s wading pool. <3

fair thee well and enjoy your August! (heart hugs and fond memories)

THANKS!!!

This was one of my favorite strips.

Have a GREAT retirement.

You will be missed.

I’m going to miss you guys!

This is one I’m going to miss. I wish it could go into re-runs.

Congratulations on your retirement; hope you have many more Augusts to enjoy! I’ve always saved this strip for last, like dessert after dinner. Thanks for a great run ♥♥

Happy for Jan. She did a great last comic.

Thank you, Jan, for all these wonderful years. We would have enjoyed more time with the family, but understand your wishes. Here’s hoping that your retirement is filled with all the adventures that you have imagined and more.I will miss the new strips (Alix has always been my favorite).

Happy retirement Jan! Will miss you and this comic a lot. Thanks for all the years and all the laughs. And for the last few weeks when you have given us a little view of you and your world. You are truly a class act in the world of comic strips!

Happy Trails until we meet again……. Thanks for all your wonderful work! I’ve loved it all.

Gonna miss ya’ !! Enjoy Life !!!

WOW! Best conclusion of any comic strip ever! Such an outstanding and clever way to bring the strip to a close. Your closure is right up there with the very best closure of a TV sitcom: Bob Newhart’s final episode of Newhart. Thank you.

I’m a 67 year old man I actually have tears in my eyes a lump in my throat thinking this was the last strip. What a beautiful way to have but but a sad sad sad day

I will miss this comic! I have been reading this comic for years!

Yes, thank you for all the entertainment Jan. You will need another source of manageable stress to avoid an emotional letdown…..golf maybe? ;o)

Thanks for all the smiles, Jan. While part of me wishes the whole family were here in the finale, a jump into new terrain seems fitting somehow. Enjoy retirement, and come back to “see” us sometime. Best wishes.

Thank you for many years of pleasurable visiting with the Stone family. I really appreciate how you have ended with it – with a knowledge for us that all will be well and happy with the families. THANK YOU. Enjoy the rest of your life.

Wow! So you’re leaving us to miss this wonderful, honestly insightful strip. I will miss the family and it’s humanity… we need more like this during these times….Happy retirement, Jan! Enjoy your Ever-August!

Thanks for gifting us with such touching and wonderful characters through the years! As others have said, I hope you have as much fun as Jan’s mom in retirement. Thanks for leaving Stone Soup Classics running too, so we can relive the series.

Really seem odd no more original’s by a great author, just happy for Classics.

Any chance for reruns?

Farewell, Jan Eliot, and thank you!

Thank you for a great comic. Have a great retirement.

Thanks, Jan!!

Thanks, Jan, glad I found you. Have to admit, though, between you and Howard Taylor, I am not gonna love August as much as I used to.

Fair Winds and Following Seas Jan. I’ll miss this strip bigtime.

How long is GoComics going to leave this up?

Good-bye, Ms. Elliot. I loved your strip! Sniff!

More than a touch sad. But best of luck Ms Eliot!

I’ll miss Jan and Stone Soup. Wishing you a fantastic retirement, Jan.

That was a great send-off! Let Jan’s summer begin.

Thank You for everything, Jan. Take care!

Shoulda seen that one coming…

All the best to you Jan – thanks for making me love August all these years!

At least we have Classic Stone Soup.

Thank you for giving us some closure with the characters. I appreciate having a future to imagine for them. I’ll miss their new adventures. It would be fun for you bring Holly and Alix back as young adults for a mini-series some day. But enjoy your retirement first! Thank you for all the laughs and well-understood family moments.

Congratulations on your retirement Jan, and thanks for all the sweetness and laughs. I’ll miss your strips!

This is my 57th birthday today and I am a little sad now. sniff sniff, really? the last one? :( But I am grateful for all these years of a great strip.

So long, Jan! Thanks for sharing with us for all of these years! See you in the funny papers!

Thank you, Ms. Eliot, for sharing your talents with us, and for introducing us to such wonderful characters!

Thank you, Jan, for all the fun and insights. At least now you can enjoy every August fully with no deadlines to worry about!!

Thank you Jan for the many years of great entertainment. I will miss new comics but continue to read the reruns. I hope you have a great retirement!

Congrats on a successful run. We all should have such success after trials. Enjoy the no deadlines and freedom to go on LONG trips (especially in AUGUST!) Do inform us through the media of yours travels (as you see fit). HAPPY RETIREMENT!

Thanks for the great work! You will be missed!

Enjoy your retirement, dear, and thanks for all the wonderful stories. I’m going to miss the children of your heart.

25 years. That is impressive.Have fun and than you for all of the fun you have provided us.

My three girls and I have LOVED Stone Soup for a quarter of a century! They have grown up laughing over all the characters, and sometimes MIRRORING the characters…….and I know I have mirrored the characters once or twice myself. Ha, ha! We have several Stone Soup books, and they are in pretty bad shape from being read and re-read so often over the years. We are all are sad to see the strip ending, but we wish you all the best, Ms. Eliot!

best of wishes and thanks for all the years of laughs!

Enjoy your retirement Jan. I know I do mine. Sleep in every morning.

One of the saddest things about old age is outliving your favorite comic strips.

I am so sad to see the end of Stone Soup, it has been a favorite of mine for many years. Have a great August. You will be missed.

I will really miss this one.

Sorry to see Stone Soup depart. At the same time Schlock Mercenary has finished it 20 year run really make it a bad month. The 2020 curse strikes hard. Best of luck to Ms Eliot for bringing so many laughs to all of us.

Kind of a shame that this didn’t end with the whole family. Does anyone know if this will go into repeats, or not bother since we have the Stone Soup Classics?

I never got to see last Sunday’s comics because GoComics screwed up my subscription so that I didn’t see any comics from 7/26/20 or 7/27/20. Glad GoComics sent a special email about this strip on 7/30/20. It’s been a great strip. At one time I went back to the very beginning and read all the strips plus I have all the books. (Maybe missing the last 1 or 2 – have to check it out)

Thank you Jan for a great Strip. Enjoy your retirement!!

Thanks for everything Jan – I hope you;re enjoying August with no deadlines!

Very best of good karma, Jan. Enjoy your retirement and thanks for all the smiles! You ended the strip in a lovely way.

I will so miss this comic strip. Enjoy, Ms. Eliot, and thank you.

Calvin was my favorite strip until I found Stone Soup. Now my all time fave! The silver lining to losing it is Jan Eliot moving on to a great retirement, which she deserves. But I will certainly miss Val and her family. It’s been great, Jan. Thanks SO MUCH!

Happy retirement Jan, I will miss your strip.

I’m sad to see the end of this strip. Go forth and enjoy your free time!

One of my favorite comics! Thanks for all the laughs and enjoy your next adventure!

Bye-bye, Jan Eliot. It’s been fun. Godspeed!

Thank you for all the laughs. I will miss the characters, but mostly Biscuit!

I just finished binge reading from start to finish. I’m going to miss this.

I believe those are the Three Sisters mountains. I have enjoyed your strip for many years now and will miss new installments. So glad the older ones will still be here to enjoy. Happy retirement and congratulations!

I know, it’s a little late, but farewell to Ms. Elliot and whole the Stone family – Val, Joan, Evie, and others.

Now, let’s enjoy other strips, while they’re still here.

Goodbye, Jan! Thank you for making such a wonderful strip!