Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for December 13, 2020

ouch (psychologically)

A sentiment I can agree with.

Sometimes you just have to ask for help.

Neither does my front!

“And when did that start?” “About a weak back…”

This is why I let my kids do most of the Christmas decorating.

Of course Frank could cut back on the xmas decorations. You know, show a little love to his back.

At least Frank’s not complaining about the damage done to his wallet by the Christmas Season…

Wow. I think Dog called this yesterday. Nice one, Dog.

And Frank is right. Putting up Christmas decorations can be hard on the back.

On the other hand, I’ve noticed that many families in My neighborhood, have gone all out this year putting up Christmas decorations in the front yard. A pretty good sign that most if not all are going to be home this holiday season thanks to the pandemic.And I’ve lost count of the number of UPS, and Amazon trucks that visit our cul-de-sac daily. On-Line Christmas Shopping most have gone gangbusters. A most interesting “historical” fact to make note of. At least for Me, anyway. When this pandemic is finally ”declared” over, ain’t nobody ever gonna be staying home anymore.

And Look! Frank has a decent sized ladder! Perhaps Les should mentor and bound with Frank. He could learn a thing or two, from his future father-in-law. ;)

PS: Just kidding! Kinda.

[DUCKS]

I couldn’t lift one of my boxes so I left it in the shed. Less decor, less to pack up.

We’ve cut down over the years. We’ve given a lot away to friends and relatives.

My body feels that way about life in general.

Inept dad complains about how much work he has to do, when other family members could do it. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Frank. Listen to me: smaller tree. bigger bed.

That’s an awkward way to carry a Christmas tree. Just really sticking his face all up in those needles. And who knows where the three other people who live in this house are at, or did he even ask for help at all? Maybe he didn’t. He seems like the kind of guy who doesn’t think he needs help with lifting stuff.

Under Cromwell the Puritans made it illegal in England to observe Christmas in any way but going to church. I’m not sure when the US turned it into a competition to use more electricity than your neighbor. There’s a lot of room between the extremes (I’m a bit towards the Puritan half of the continuum myself.)

A couple of projectors, some fairy lights and a tree outside. The tree is artificial and I keep it undercover most of the year and just have to uncover it for display. Inside is a small tree. Lot simpler than times past.

Maybe it’s time to reduce decorations. That’s really a huge amount! They seem to have a tree for each room!!!

Frank works hard for that back pain. Go easy on him, Nancy….

Get that slacker Luann to help,Frank,jeez…

Yeah forget christmas, leave it alone

Just say no!

I agree.

Frank has two adult kids, why doesn’t he have them help with the decorations?

Sad but true. Hit the gym, folks. Trust me on that one.

Started late this year; just didn’t feel like Christmas. Winter decor up and stays until March, Christmas decor will go up next week. Little by little, save the back! ;-)

Lucky stiff

Had cervical spine surgery recently. Much scaled back decorating, just the essentials, working together with my wife. But, Merry Christmas!

Amen

Well it all depends on circumstance, I’m out of hospital now, on crutches, so even getting my artificial tree out of the cupboard, down the stairs, into the living room, out off the box and onto a table, with train ornament with snow globes in front of said tree was enough for me. I called it KISS, Keep It Simple Santa!

So much for holiday spirit.

And then… IT SNOWED. And my back says OH NOOOOOO!

So where’s the rest of the family, who should be helping out?

this is exactly what I feel like. I took the decorations out of the basement this morning and am resting now before manhandling the tree so I have something of a back left tonight

As a 75 year old (today) man with chronic osteoarthiritis, along with other aches and pains, I can relate. However, even though this strip does not necessarily cover the contemporary pandemic time, I will be dragging up our tree from the basement to put in our living room today. We need the spirit, and midnight mass on the 25th (even though I am now an Episcopalian, I am a dual citizen, Roman too). Even on video that is comforting.

Just leave an artificial tree up all year. January decorate it with New Year’s party favors, February use Valentine hearts, March use shamrocks, etc. throughout the year. For Easter time, there’s rabbits and eggs. I’m sure each month some type of celebration can be used. Even if there’s no national type celebration – someone in the family may have a birthday.

My sister hasn’t taken her Christmas tree down in about ten years. It’s always up and she has the lights on often. Slowly it collects more ornaments, or they change around—it’s fun checking it out when I visit. She has more lights up at Christmas, but the one tree’s a fixture. Nice!

Frank needs to do back exercises, and wear a back brace when lifting.

Frank should hire Gunther to help. Gunther LOVES to do all this Christmas finery.

Don’t be cheap, Frank Degroot- hire someone

Why doesn’t anybody help him? Also that definitely looks like a two person tree to carry.

Boy, do I sympathize – and it gets worse as the years go by…

Ummm… I really have to ask…

Why is Frank using such a short ladder, when we KNOW he has one that reaches the roof? The DeGroots appear to have at least 2 ladders. One is an exterior ladder that’s 12 feet-ish? the other is an interior ladder that’s 5 feet? Did they sell the 12 foot one to Cheap Ed or something?

https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2018/12/02

https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2018/12/02

I want to say here that I really enjoyed today’s strip. I k, now, how shocking. I like it because it’s quietly seasonal. It shows Frank doing something he likes. You can tell because he’s not asking for or demanding help from anyone. All he says at the end of the day is that he’s not as young as he used to be. And ain’t that true for all of us.

We live near the Grosse Pointes of Michigan. It’s fun to drive along the lake and look at the decorations on the mansions that line the shore. These all are, I’m sure, professionally decorated, and look really nice. There is one house there that goes so far out that I suspect it can be seen from space. And the fun thing is that they decorate for most holidays during the year — Easter, 4th of July, Halloween and Christmas. Every inch of their house and yard is covered with decorations. It’s a trip to go see it.

Neither does mine!

RIP John LeCarre’

Master storyteller.

I stopped putting up Lights or any other Holiday decorations years ago.

Some of my Neighbors, OTOH, never miss an opportunity.

They even decorate for Halloween in a neighborhood that hasn’t had a single Trick or Treater in the entire 10 years I’ve lived here.

There are a couple big churches nearby which have turned Halloween into a big night to rake in the Cash with “Carnivals”.

Y aun le falta hacer las compras para la cena, los regalos, todo eso

Where is Luann, the slacker?

Frank the super Santa.

I felt the same today while putting up our Christmas lights. Nearly broke my neck, and we’re in an apartment! Haha!

Yeah very funny.