A pithy comic strip about life, love, lust and puthy cats.

Est. 1985

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La vie et la mort

By Jimmy Johnson


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I hope this cartoon from 2002 will not appear glib, but I’m certain I’ve never drawn anything appropriate to the events in Paris. Humorists are hard pressed when widely felt tragedy occurs, when neither business as usual nor silence is comfortable. I have spent time in France, including two months as a guest of the House of Authors at the International Institute of the Comic Strip in Angoulême. Those titles, by the way, are my crude English translations, to save us all some extra trouble. I have never met anyone from Charlie Hebdo, but I have met many French cartoonists, and they were all very gracious. I am thinking of my friends there, many of whom I am sure do have direct connections to the victims. It is hard to imagine the shock and the grief being experienced by the large and vibrant community of French cartooning. My association with them is tenuous, to be sure, but I personally am saddened with them. And I do admit trying not to think about it too much.

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70 responses to “La vie et la mort

  1. Jerry in Fl Avatar
    Jerry in Fl

    John, I’m so sorry. I obsess about more minor things when it seems so many of you are dealing with life and death issues.

  2. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Oh John, I wish I were there in Katy near by, I’d come hug you and we could cry together.

    This is so hard, but keep moving one foot at a time. Not very good advice but surround yourself with love which comes from strange places sometimes, like a comic strip blog.

    Stay with us, the Village is a warm place to reside.

    Love, Jackie

  3. TruckerRon Avatar

    My condolences also, John.

    My mother, after they attempted to remove her brain tumor (it wasn’t the simple glioma the MRI indicated), also had visual hallucinations. Most of them terrified her, but the flying fish that lived behind the painting on the wall entertained her for hours. My mother-in-law had a gentler, more peaceful experience during her decline.

  4. Ghost Rider 6 Avatar
    Ghost Rider 6

    I’m terribly sorry for your loss, John. I’ve never had a spouse to lose, but I can only imagine that it is like losing a part of yourself. Hold onto the good memories; that does help.

  5. Mark in TTown Avatar
    Mark in TTown

    John, I’m sorry for your loss. It’s good that the two of you knew in advance this was coming, though. You both had time to prepare as best you could and enjoy what you could together in the meantime. Peace and comfort to you and your family.

  6. curmudgeonly ex-professor Avatar
    curmudgeonly ex-professor

    Indeed, John, may the Almighty guide you through this trying time.

  7. Mindy from Indy Avatar
    Mindy from Indy

    John – So sorry to read this. Sending you a huge hug as well.

  8. David from Austin Avatar
    David from Austin

    John, very sorry for your loss. I pray that you can find some comfort in the memories of happy times together.

  9.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Good morning Villagers….

    John, so sorry for your loss of your wife, keep the memories, good and bad, close to your heart…you and yours are in my prayers………………………………………………..Amen

    David, I pray also it is a match……………………Amen

    Jackie, you are still in my thoughts and prayers……….Amen

    The Village is good.

    love to all

    debbe

  10. Debbe Avatar
    Debbe

    oops…..I was defragged again last night….

  11. Granny Carol Avatar
    Granny Carol

    So very sorry, John. Even if death is expected, the empty place is still the same. I pray you receive peace and comfort in the days ahead.

  12. Galliglo from Ohio Avatar
    Galliglo from Ohio

    John, I really cannot add anything different from what has already been said. You are loved… and that love will sustain you. Hugs and prayers…

  13. Bob in Orland Park Avatar
    Bob in Orland Park

    John, so very sorry. Prayers…..

  14. Soleil Avatar
    Soleil

    Jimmy, nous sommes Charlie.

  15. Ruth Anne in Winter Park Avatar
    Ruth Anne in Winter Park

    For John: my heartfelt condolences

    For all, but especially David: a few choruses of “We sure could use a little good news today”

  16. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Good morning all. Gray and overcast here, cold. No sun. I think we all need a little sunshine to help us through. Mine will arrive probably with my “help” who are living sunshine. Isn’t that strange, three women who by all that seems logical to today’s world should be down, depressed and giving up?

    That is what “survivors” seem to do, to keep going on and not be defeated by the world. It isn’t an easy job, God knows, but someone has to do it.

    And yes, I subscribe to the belief that we must help others along our way and accept the same when offered.

    On a pleasant note, I have the most huge blue jays out in my yard, big as pigeons and not “normal” sized. I have never seen jays this large, even in the mountains out in west.

    Wake up and look out windows of office to a yard of birds. We need to refill feeders I am certain.

    Love, Jackie

  17. emeritus minnesota biologist Avatar
    emeritus minnesota biologist

    John,

    Thoughts and prayers. Wife’s acute leukemia did not lead to hallucinations as far as we could tell. One thing was quite clear: She was distressed at leaving me alone.

    My guess is that both are now watching over us. No proof; faith is not about things you can prove.

    Peace, emb

  18. Jackie Monies Avatar
    Jackie Monies

    Providing my own audio sunshine listening to Peter Nero play variation on Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess”, just unbelievable it is so good. How was he lost to us as the great talent he is? The present generation doesn’t know he exists, probably the technically best jazz and classical pianist we ever produced? And yes, I have heard and seen a lot of pianists.

    Brings back good memories, both of “Porgy” and Nero. The best performance I remember was sitting on a cruise ship in Honolulu while he played in a tiny cabaret setting, I think there were only 50 or so of us dining, and I could have thrown a green pea and hit him in the eye! In other words, sitting at my desk this gray morning is like that night. He is playing in my lap.

    “Porgy and Bess” by the Houston Grand Opera was the first historic performance of Gershwin’s music as he wrote and arranged his “opera”, sung by great voices. I was there for opening night in a front row box and I will never forget that experience. You can relive if not repeat events and they are happy memories. Never, no matter how poor I may have been at times did I ever regret them or wish I “had just kept the money”.

    Some things are priceless.

    Love Jackie

  19. sandcastler™ Avatar
    sandcastler™

    John, our prayers are with you.

  20. TruckerRon Avatar

    Which of your states made it onto this list?

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2013/03/31/odd-state-tax-laws/1951911/

    I think Utah, my home state, has the oddest one.