I don't know how cartoonists do what they do on a daily basis. Six days out of the week, they attempt to package a smile into a three-panel comic strip. On Sunday, they triple the panel count and go for laughs in color. I realize people pay them for what they do, but it seems to me that money would tend to stifle rather than stimulate an artist's imagination.

Two recent strips caught my eye. Before I forget or lose them, I want to write them down. The first one is from Foxtrot...

Mom: Paige, what are you doing?
Paige: Watching TV.
Mom: It's a beautiful spring day! You should be enjoying it!
Paige: All right. All right. Sheesh. There. I put on The Weather Channel.
Mom: I'm counting to three...

There are days when it's gorgeous outside, but all I want to do is stay holed up inside and planted in front of the television. On those days, someone needs to hand me this strip.

The second one is from Calvin and Hobbes...

Calvin: Ewww, look! This bug is eating another bug!
Hobbes: Yuckkk!
Calvin: Blecchh! Gross!
Hobbes: Ick! Ick!
Calvin: Blbpbblpth! I can't believe I looked at that! Ew! Ew!
Hobbes: Hacckkhh! Gaaacck!
Calvin: Great experiences are even better when they're shared.

This is classic Calvin being the typical kid, but then saying something wise beyond his years. An experience is even better when we share it. This is true whether we experience it firsthand, with another person, or secondhand, sharing it through a story (or tall tale depending on the number of retellings).