Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for January 13, 2011

Have they buried her yet? What are we doing here?

I wish someone would bury Mike’s brother …

There’s one in every family, though, isn’t there?

(Sometimes more than one)…

Glad Granny D was there for Alex. Kids and grandparents are natural allies, after all.

Grandparents are sometimes better with grandkids than they are with their own kids.

Another illustration that only saints ever die.

Truth is, Daisy barely knew that Alex even existed.

^I don’t know about that.

But I do know grandparents have a different relationship with kids than parents do - and thankfully so for all parties concerned!

I listened to the minister of the day praise granny as a “kind, simple woman” Had to check to see if it was the funeral of my granny who ran rum from Cuba during prohibition. The family’s hands were in front of their faces to keep from laughing. After, while we ate and got drunk, we all had a good laugh. Funerals are more fun than weddings, don’t have to pretend.

GrimmaTheNome said,

Grandparents are sometimes better with grandkids than they are with their own kids.

My Mom said that if she knew grandkids were going to be this much fun, she’d have had them first.

It looks to me like Mike is smiling at his brother’s comment in the last panel.

Why haven’t we met Mike’s brother before? He seems like quite the character…or have we met him and I missed it?

Mike’s brother was around briefly in the 70’s, and for a longer stint in the 80’s. Hasn’t been seen since until now.

There’s no reason to think that Alex isn’t telling the truth. Mike is smiling because Alex is putting her grandmother on a higher plane than her own mother (whose leaving the family for $#@#$-head caused the self esteem issues), and he’s quite content to let her do so.

In today’s high-divorce mobile society, grandparents are often called upon to play the role of foster parents. Alex is saying that Daisy was a better mother to her than JJ, which on a sliding scale puts JJ pretty bleeep low.

My wife always wondered what happened to her spanking and yelling parents when our kids came along. Actually helps them with their grown kids as well.

And the sad thing is: there are always “mike’s brothers” who miss out on it and have only those rotten memories.

Alternating generations click. The children of strict parents raise kids easygoing and they become strict parents.

I am enjoying the proud look on Mike’s face, as he listens to Alex.

Richard, they let the ministers talk because the caterers are usually too busy bringing more plates of mini bagel pizzas and hot dogs to say a few words.

Seriously, they’re invited BECAUSE they bring their own brands of faith, which is comforting to people who share that faith… especially since in the case of funerals of elderly folks, there’s usually a good-sized crowd of friends and relatives who know that it’s only a few short months until they’re lying in the box themselves.

Besides, if we’re intellectually honest with each other, we all know that we have no way to know exactly what the next step will be. We’re not equipped to understand it. Believing that there’s nothing else is just as much a leap of faith as for those who think they’ll be knocking at the pearly gates.

I can see the gravestone now…

“Daisy Doonesbury… Loving wife and mother… Notorious grandmother.”

She will be missed.

All I can say is; “She’s dead, Jim”

michaelwme, I’m not worried about your witchcraft, but please turn in all your firearms to the nearest authorities. While you’re at it, consider getting your meds adjusted.

That’s the cabernet talkin’.