For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for September 09, 2023

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls; may I proudly introduce my favorite character in this series? Josef “Weed” Weeder

HELLO there, Josef Weeder! Welcome Back. One of my faves.

Welcome Weed!

I remember the president of my university asking all members of the freshman class to stand (it wasn’t everyone in the auditorium, as our families were still with us; they left right after his speech). He said something to the effect of “Look to your left, look to your right. Statistically you have probably just gotten your first glimpse of your future spouse.”

I sure proved him wrong!

From Lynn’s Comments: This is the first introduction to "Weed"—Michael’s eventual life-long chum. He looks a bit different here—in later illustrations, his nose gets bigger. I have this thing for big noses.

With plenty of booze, right, Weed??

Enter Weed.

pretty much sums it up. :J

Is it ever revealed how many times Weed has been a Freshman? He sure does know a lot about what’s about to happen (SPOILERS!!… sorry, I couldn’t help myself.) for someone who would never have been to University.

Our dean delivered a more ominous opening statement….“Take a look at the people around you. Over one-third of you will not be here for next semester.”I wonder if approaches like that still exist over 5 decades later?

I remember way back when I was supposed to go to Freshman Orientation. I never did. I didn’t think it was important. I still don’t to this day. To hear about people saying “we care for you” and “we’re the best” doesn’t mean diddly when studying for finals and getting a job.

That girl infront of Mike looks VERY familiar.

I learned really early in my adult life that most “party” dudes either already have their work done or don’t plan on doing any. Either way, their distraction can easily lead to my failure, if I let it.

Be careful, Mike! Pay attention to your schoolwork! All that partying is why many freshmen flunk out before the Christmas holiday!

It just came to me – Weed is the brother of Knute from Luann.

Michael: “Hello, I am Michael Patterson.”

Josef: “Is that Paterson with three Ts?”

And then, four years later, you sober up with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Basket Weaving and a $250,000 college debt. Good call.

A good book is Conquering College by Howard Warshaw. He managed to graduate early with a double major. His attitude was that school is merely a training program to get on with your life, whereas the herd mentality and TV regurgitated the concept that school is life itself. His attitude in getting through school was one I followed RASABIC:

Read

Ahead

Stay

Ahead

Be

In

Class

Our assemblies in the gym were fun. They made as much noise as possible, drove motorcycles and ATVs around, and then did skits. Usually a band played a few sets

First look at weed

Auditorium: From the Latin, meaning, “boring.”

Oh yeah… had forgot about Weed…. It’s WEED !! Appropriately named, too.

What Elle, aka Mom, doesn’t know from here on out…. the better.

Even so, it is hard for Michael to leave his friends behind. Friends whom everyone is familiar with, such as Arnie, Dallas, Lorne and Wesley D. Bates.

I don’t know where you guys are getting Weed’s proclivity for marijuana. His nickname is a play on his last name, not a comment on his habits. As far as I know, there is absolutely no instance of Weed or Mike ever doing drugs. Yes they drank – sometimes to excess – but did not do drugs.

A party with Weed!

Kiss Michael good-bye for awhile. He will not be back until December and we will only get to see the after effects of this party.