nicely understated. it really IS a frustrating conundrum to let...go.

That is such a lovely story.



You might want to read this one by Lucy Knisley, on the same subject :



http://lucylou.livejournal.com/578990.html

This is normally where I would make some comment about how the baloons are really condums or the like. However, since you said that it was so hard to have a serious conversation with me on X-mas eve, I figured I would just say that I get it and it is hard to let go (especially of snarky comments).



Can we now get on with the ariing of grievences..

TWO nut-job kids! Poor Jen. ;-)



I always enjoy the unPCness of some of your parenting sequences. Maybe that's why I was surprised you weren't as hard assed about the deer ("yard rats," we call them -- the deer, not the kids).



But yeah, the balloons represent life dilemmas -- in your son's case, the fear that having will mean losing; in Char's case, the whole "can't have your cake and eat it too" thing. (And before you ask, yes, I AM Dr. Phil!)



Just to complicate matters, should I mention that letting balloons go is basically littering?

As a child, I would've agonized over the let-go-or-not connundrum, too. But at least Charlotte didn't worry about letting them go separately...and therefore being lonely...as I would have done. These days? No balloons in free-flight. Bad for the environment and bad for the birds who might choke on them.



One last balloon thought: Who amongst you remembers the beautiful yet melancholy French children's book "The Red Balloon"? One of my all-time favorites...

I just wanna know how you knew about the debauchery. Are you spying on me?



I loved this strip, Jennifer.

"Oh for shit's sake." Tell me about it.



I was thinking that a balloon could represent the fragile nature of love, or of spiritual awareness. A fragile, ephemeral thing; a material of a lighter chemical state that must be coaxed into existing on our heavier plane, where the very atoms in the air conspire to push it out if we momentarily lose our grip. Or I could just be drunk.



What I'm saying is that letting a balloon go is indeed littering. Littering heaven.



Beautiful story, as always.

Me too! Of course, I subscribe to the motto, "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me..."



But seriously. Underwire is one of a very small handful of web comix that I actively look forward to. I should have said that sooner.

Great work. A little piece which captures so much.

The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse (Hardcover - Jun 1, 1956). Which really dates me.



What debauchery? Where? What did I miss?



Love your Underwire posts, Jen. Keep 'em comin'.

And I thought you covered another aspect of this so well in your kite story! I'm so glad you also did this with Ophelia, great bonding moment. I'm also very happy that my insanity appeals to you--it hasn't always appealed to everyone...

Hey Mike--thanks so much for wonderful review in your blog! I absolutely do approve! You've made my day.



If the moths really are stirring in your wallet, I have two things in print: a story in The ACT-I-VATE Primer (IDW, 2009)--which is a great anthology--and a minicomic of three UNDERWIRE webcomics which you can order from me if you can't get to Bergen Street Comics in Brooklyn. You guessed right: my little boxes ARE supposed to be arranged six to a page for print purposes. And I'll be in two more anthologies coming up, to be announced on my blog: http://goddesscomix.blogspot.com/.



Great to have you aboard!

Dag, chickita, that was a nice review. Right back atcha.