Revolutionary Schlep 08/12/22

Before we get started, we have a major announcement. This is The New 60 Comic after all and its creators are in their 60’s. So we’re not having children, but our children are having children. This week John and Linda’s daughter Ali (yeah, I have an Ali as well) and her husband Neil gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Sloane Catherine Donnelly. Now both New 60 co-creators are beaming grandpas of baby girls. Expect a slew of grandchild related comics in the future.

As for the comics, we first took a look at Revolutionary War reenactors. You know the kind. The guys dress up as British redcoats, complete with tricorn hats and the women all seem to enjoy dressing up as milkmaids. Now we have a couple of questions about the war itself though we’re not sure if any of our readers are old enough to have participated. First, when being shelled by cannonballs, what protection is a tri-cornered felt hat? Ever hear of a damn helmet? No wonder they lost. And also, why would you want to act in a scene when you don’t even get to read any lines? We wondered which character might get into something like this and the answer was obvious: Craig, who in addition to being a golf coach, is also a history professor. In researching this comic, I mentioned to John that there was actually a Battle of White Plains (close to where I live) which is memorialized on the highest point in White Plains on, get this, Battle Avenue (I kid you not), with a cannon. As I drove by to take a picture John could reference for his illustrations, I was disheartened to see cranes and earth movers (definitely NOT from the Revolutionary War era) and the aforementioned cannon had been moved to the side to make room for a playground, of all things. I can just imagine the conversations this will inspire when the project is finished. Mother to toddler, “Look sweetheart, over here is where youR great-great-great-great-great grandfather got gored to death by a British bayonet.” Ahh, to keep the memories alive. That’s why people like Craig get dressed up in the first place.

Moving on to our second effort, the “beach schlep,” John and I noted a tendency people have to try and find the “best” spot to set up camp on the beach. For some reason, the person doing the least amount of hauling is the person who calls the shots about where to sit. “Not here, it’s too close to those people. Not there, we’ll block their view when we put up the umbrella.” And finally, just like Goldilocks, “Right there. It’s just right.” Inevitably followed by, “Well maybe not there, how about here?” Also it’s really funny when John draws smoke coming out of someone’s head in a thought bubble. We’ve all been there.

But back to the big news, I can’t wait for the day baby Sloane meets “big girl Charlotte” one day and Charlotte can teach her tricks like how to throw your sippy cup on the ground when you’re finished drinking water. Funny trick that NEVER gets old.

Have a great weekend as we race towards Labor Day and the end of summer. Where does the time go and does it go quicker the older we get or does it just seem that way? See you next week with two new ones.

Andy and John