For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for July 17, 2021

Problem solved! Would be easier if parents sit down with their children and ask what they want for their inheritance. If they see that they argue over some items, they know to donate or sell those. Not worth to divide the siblings over physical things. They need each other when their parents die.

“To the church,” exclaim El and Phil. “Dad, are you and Mom daft?!”

You both should happy to see that pump organ go to where it will be used. No more arguing over something you will not use.

Well that took care of the 20 cent question.

Neither of them saw that coming, good decision sir!

The “look” on both of their faces – - PRICELESS!!!

/SHMIRK/

That solves THAT problem.D

Well done, dad! It’s perfect for a church.

Thems the breaks.

It seems to me that the church would be the most logical place for the organ, and if they are upset about that then that’s their own problem.

Ha! Now those idiots have nothing to fight over.

Honestly, it’s probably better this way. There won’t be any lingering resentment between Ellly and Phil.

It’s a pity they didn’t bring Michael along to help with the heavy lifting. He would have laughed his butt off and told his grandparents they had been fighting over the pump organ all the way there.

Bwahahaha! Now you can fight over that dented Hohner harmonica Dad used to drive you crazy with trying to play “Lady of Spain” over and over after going to a Jerry Murad concert.

Or something like that.

Good for you, Gramps!! Your kids are nothing but selfish monsters!

Ah ha, a positive result to yesterday’s guess. A very trendy thing to do especially with old organs (come on now I know your thinking human, after all we are comic readers) and pianos.

Surrealistic physics at work again? In the first panel the packing box is up to El’s hips. In the fourth panel the box has increased size and is up to El’s shoulders. Even though it appears El never moved further back. Is that because El literally has a sinking feeling in panel 4?

Ha!

“pleased” doesn’t seem to be the word they’re looking for.

This may be a comic strip but does represent real life sadly. Either of them would gladly let the other have it as long as it stayed in the family. Now it stings. I’ve been through it, still going through it and will need to deal with this again. Not fun.

I wonder if the parents donated the pump organ cause they knew their kids would be fighting over it.

As I mentioned before, my mother “tagged” everything with who got what, and my dad & we kids all honored her wishes. My mother DOES have an interesting sense of humor, tho. She & I used to “argue” because I don’t like expensive things, like diamonds, and she had always wished the best for me. What was one of the things she left for me? Her wedding & engagement rings! She knew it was the only way I would own a diamond! (Unfortunately, they don’t fit me, so I’m holding them for one of my daughters.)

Heck, get a keyboard with the thousand knobs and buttons and plug it into a massive amp.

My mother went through her house w/my sister-in-law making a list of who gets what. When I got an item my brother wanted, SIL told her husband, “It’s the way Mom wanted it.”

PERFECT!!!!!

Lynn’s Comments:

I had fun here drawing Phil and Elly’s facial expressions. Nothing can show emotion like the elastic face of a cartoon character!

He’s obviously an organ donor.

“Say not you know another entirely till you have divided an inheritance with him.” — Johann Kaspar Lavater

We all knew that that song would be sung.

Good call!!

Good move! The brats might even learn something… maybe.

I feel the anger, confusion, and heartbreak from here. Not that the organ went to the church so much as that the fight they were about to have just got canceled.

I wondered why Elly thought she should have gotten it. Is she older than Phil?

I’ve believed for a long time that if you want someone to get something specific (or if they ask for something specific, for that matter) that you should give it to them before you die. Things left to them in your will have a literally nasty tendency to disappear.

Wise parenting wins again….

Horrors!

PERFECT

Good!

Haha…. Love that artwork in last panel

Phil is a total jerk.

Ha, ha.

That cured the sibling rivalry over the pump organ, imagine that church happy for that organ. Funny in a way.

Great tax deduction, the value always appreciates 4 X market value and screws the government.

Dad exhibits true wisdom. And although the two of them are too self absorbed to recognize it, true love for his children.

I knew it! ;o]

Just go to the church and see if they will take a large “donation” for the old thing. Hurry before the other one beats you to it!

All this argument over an instrument. Glad that got resolved quickly.

Neither Ellie or Phil can argue; the pump organ was their parents’ and they had the right to donate it. It’s going to a pretty good cause, too!

I love how they are giving each other “the eye” in panel one.

I think Lynn had way too much fun drawing Phil’s and old Dad’s chin.

Good for Dad. Pump organs are worthless anyway.

Love it!

Oh, That is real funny. Their looks.

Saw that coming a mile away.

A friend has an old pump,organ in her living room. Her husband is one of those people who thinks everything old is a valuable antique. He bought it for $150 10 years or so ago. He was going to fix it and make a good profit reselling it. Well, it is still there. It is ugku and she hates it but he thinks it is going to bring in a ton of money. From experience I know it is hard enough trying to get rid of a perfectly good piano. An old pump,organ? Can’t give them away.

I love reading this comic!

HA!!! LOL

Insert Nelson laugh here!

My maternal grandmother was a school teacher with over 40 years experience. One thing her school district did was provide the teachers with an 8 X 10 glossy of the POTUS every year. When she was getting old she asked people what they wanted when she passed away. I asked for the POTUS photos. Harding to JFK hanging in various locations around the house. My grandfather left me his fountain pens, including several pre-war Pelikans and Montblancs and French Watermans.

Called that yesterday.

Here we have a GREAT example of where Mike Muir and Suicidal Tendencies got their classic line, “We have decided what is in your best interests” line from. That so-called “Greatest Generation” had a most disconcerting way of taking action and putting the final stamp on such decisions without seeking the input of anyone else who may be impacted by that decision. And in a situation like this one (dividing the estate), that never, ever ends well. Those who haven’t been through it yet, count your blessings. You are in for the ride of your life. Pay attention and take note if you don’t want to be (as our UK friends would say) gobsmacked by it when it hits you like a freight train. And it’s coming, whether you like it or not. Trust me on that one.

My grandparents had a ancient grandfather clock that my parents brought back from Yorkshire after g-dad died. Never a thought to whether their only son wanted it, they gave it to some church…

Excellent. Did he know they both wanted it?

Good!!

A few years ago, someone donated a lovely old Werlitzer organ to a “friends of the library” silent auction I was part of. Man, we couldn’t GIVE that away! And yes, we tried churches, schools, local theaters, etc. We did eventually sell it (weeks after the auction ended) to someone who bought it just to support the library. What they did with it, we never knew.

Phil NEEDS A CIGARETTE!

The last panel brought back memories from first time I saw itThanks very much for repeating it again enjoying more than first time.

My Mom had a ceramic tree. My sister grabbed it. I said enjoy Sissy, Please take whatever you want. Mostly it was here you take it oh no no no you can have it.

That settles that. Way to go Pops…

The pump organ? ….Grandpa’s ph*llic enlargement device??

After my mom died, my brother and sister and I had to deal with the Final Divvying Up. Fortunately, the only arguments we had were “You should have this.” “No, you should take it.” “No, really, you’ve always liked it.” “I know, let’s give it to cousin Marlys!” The three of us are so different that no two of us wanted any of the same things so it worked out beautifully.

Good decision on the parent’s part.

Best. Idea. Ever!!!!!

Pump organ donated to the church, and the church was torched by those heathens in Canada two days later.

My mother sold most everything of any value before it was “too late” and spent the money on herself. My sister was really annoyed that all that was left was the house, and very old, worn furniture. Not many assets at all. I didn’t care, personally, it was mom’s to do with as she pleased. She did give me something personal several years earlier and it’s my treasure to pass on to my granddaughter. :D

How did I know that’s what was going to happen? :-D

Called it.