October 29, 1986
In the early years of A&J, Janis was a very insecure character, to the point of neurotic. Many readers recognized her fragility as dysfunctional, but for a disquietingly large number of others and myself, it seemed normal. Arlo wasn’t perfect either. That’s all I’m going to say about that. I always have said, frequently and recently, that my writing carried the strip in the beginning as I found my way as a graphic artist. I still believe this to be true, but taking a long look at some of the early stuff (after not having done so for a while), the writing wasn’t as strong as I sometimes credit it. There were some gems in the beginning, but I think the writing has become more consistent day to day. Sometimes, I think I am very lucky to be here after 35 years.
74 responses to ““Who is this ‘Fig Newton’?””
I have tried fig jam, and the seeds drove me nuts. Same reason I don’t do blackberry or raspberry unless they are seedless.
A&J and my wife and I both have anniversaries around the same week. Today my wife and I celebrate our 38th anniversary. 38 more years? That would mean that I would be 101. With everything going on in the world, 38 more months is something to look forward too. Tomorrow is the 36th anniversary of my mother’s fatal car accident. I really wish that she could have laughed with me at Arlo & Janis, as I know that she would find it hilarious.
Sorry to hear of your mom’s death, Steve; I lost my mom the very same way, back more than 39 years ago. Until now, I never thought of all she missed, including this strip. My mom would have been delighted at presently-available genealogical research, I think.
Back in the 1940s, I surmise, she wrote out a list of her cousins and their approximate locations; I have it. Unfortunately, she did not indicate the parentage of any of them! Her mom had 11 sibs and her dad had 5 more, so there were a lot of possibilities. Knowing the cousins’ surnames helped only a bit, and not at all for the married female cousins. Mom also wrote down what she knew of her parents and their parents, too, a far as she knew. It was a starting point.
My mom’s a unt wrote an entire book of her genealogy. She was a teacher so she had her masters and after I read her book I told her that was her doctorate dissertation. I really think that was appropriate.
Ghost will not let the 12# Adventure Dog out in yard even in full daylight. I have had friends lose small dogs even on leashes.
Big hawks prey on cats here in our area. I know they have attacked some of mine who did not survive injuries. My outside cats often seem afraid to leave the safety of shelter to make run for the house.
Once had seven identical orange striped Garfields, now just have the two.
Jimmy if you do retire in three years please consider reruns like other strips have done. I will be 79 then and probably won’t remember reading them the first time! Heck, I am already there I suspect!
I have enjoyed your anniversary specials with Arlo interacting with us. Great use of old strips.
I LOVE fig jam and preserves and dried figs and fresh figs. Ditto raspberries and blackberries.
Unfortunately only blackberries grow easily here in Oklahoma which means I don’t make figgy jams anymore like I once did. Miss the South for figs but the Great Lakes for raspberries.
Coyotes at night around here. So the kids are in at night.
Though we lost a barn kitty to a vulture once – have never see a vulture again.
This morning, for no reason I can explain, I went to the archive for the week my Mom passed away (12 years and 1 day after my Dad passed). I had no recollection whatsoever of ever seeing the arc that ran during the days just before and just after her death, which of course is not surprising. The arc was one she would have enjoyed greatly, as she was, like me, an animal lover. It was a touching remembrance of Fluffy the Cat. If you don’t remember it, check it out, running from 8-15-2016 to 8-26-2016.
Ghost, I looked this up and read it again. And it hit me when I think of the pets I have had to bury at different houses. It also occurred to me that this started on about the date I was in the hospital for my bypass operation, and that my mom passed away about 2 months after this.
Cooked Cajun pinto beans and ham for dinner which is similar to red beans and rice but not similar to Okie or Arkie brown beans which I find tasteless. Ghost said his contained vegetables, unlike mine
I replied mine had six cups of vegetables with photos on Facebook as proof! Now he is cooking his so we can compare. I told you he is like Arlo.
He came home with some really nice bone in pork chops tonight. I will cook one night, he another. It is something I enjoy. I read recipes like others read novels.
However most of the bloggers are totally verbosely annoying. I just skip to the recipe. Reminds me of time I edited our church cookbook and six women would send in the identical recipe off the back of the Campbell soup can.
No, Jimmy. You are not the lucky one. We are the lucky ones for having had Arlo and Janis as part of our lives for the past 35 years.
The thought of losing them makes me very sad, and I am unemotional as one can imagine.
I too went back and read Fluffy. Like Mark and Ghost it made me sad, I ended up crying at Ludwig looking out at Fluffy’s spirit.i too have buried too many pets.
The thought of not having Arlo, Janis and Ludwig, plus rest of family in my life saddens me. I think I need to reread the archives now. I know I may not be here in 35 months but still, it saddens me.
Jimmy it has been a joyous pleasure following you since moving to Oklahoma on GoComics. I apologize for not being a better fan in the 1980s and early 90s. Those were rough years for me working ungodly hours.
My apology for being a sporadic reader back then.
You have done some really inspired and poignant work.
Jackie, “Reminds me of time I edited our church cookbook and six women would send in the identical recipe off the back of the Campbell soup can” is a keeper.
Peace,
Please, please, please put out another book. I go through your first one whenever I could use smiling and laughing – which especially these days seems frequently. And please do not go very far away.
Jimmy posted this on Facebook: While all the rending of garments is very gratifying, I feel I should explain Friday’s A&J was a statement on the economy in general and newspaper publishing in particular. While I do not expect to be here another 35 years, I have no plans to retire.
Hooray!!!
Hosannah!
He could of fooled me. And he did.
Me too! i was actually crying after you were asleep at the prospect. I did cry when Farley died, only other strip. Jimmy can make me laugh, think AND cry.
Jimmy also posted this to Facebook this morning: Good morning, everyone. For those of you who visit my blog, aka ‘the ol’ home place,’ household and technical issues–which are not unrelated–are preventing me from updating normally. I will be back next week to continue what I’m going to call “The Summer of 35.” I’ll show some more really old material and talk more about “Arlo & Janis” and its origins, etc. Thank you for being here!
Could’ve fooled me, too. Am easily taken. Peace,
… taken in. Peace,
I’m sure JJ didn’t throw the idea of his retirement out there just to see what response it got. Well, pretty sure. 🙂
But the response it got probably didn’t hurt your feelings, did it, Jimmy?
I confess… maybe because the current world has me down a bit, I took the 35 months as the later-explained state of things. My thought was actually, “35 months? I’m wondering about 35 days!”
Today’s 9CL is worth a look.
https://www.gocomics.com/9chickweedlane/2020/08/02
Peace,
Thank you, Jimmy Johnson, for the art you have shared with us. I look forward to seeing more, for as long as you wish to share.
A&J is like a touchstone. A few moments I can enjoy something that makes sense in a world that often does not. I do not believe that makes either of us smarter or more insightful. Only that years ago I found an illustrator that views life from a peculiar angle. That observer both tickles my funny bone and provides a comfort. It makes me glad there is a person who can see these parts of life, distill them into a few panels, and hold them up for us to see ourselves. Sometimes as we are, and sometimes as we would wish to be.
I wish you the very best of times ahead.
I agree wholeheartedly! A & J is a bright – and comforting – beacon in this world.
Best said of any of us Grateful Reader. Thank you for your acuity.
Rest in Peace to a wonderful actor. Since Jimmy had his start internalism I think she would enjoy this clip It wasn’t a big part, but Wilford Brimley, the actor who just passed away, was my favorite character in one of the best movies about journalism ever: Absence Of Malice. He played an asst attorney general. Here’s the fantastic scene.
https://youtu.be/btqBJJF2yvE
Thank you, Steve. I just watched that, and it is indeed fantastic. And Grateful Reader, I totally agree with Jackie. Thank you for your remarks.
What was the original date of today’s (8/3/20) strip. And what happened to Janis’s face?