Charlie Brown, Snoopy & The Rest of the Gang Are Retiring

We've got a whole lot of problems in this world, but none is bigger than this: Effective February 26,2011 Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts Gang will no longer bring joy to kids of all ages around the world via the morning funny papers.

Yes, I'm serious.

And yes, I know that Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts died on February 12, 2000, the same weekend the last original Peanuts cartoon ran and that since then Peanuts have been in reruns. I don't care. What I care about is that I can no longer open my morning comics and find Calvin & Hobbes, Cathy (effective October 3, 2010), Bloom County, The Far Side, and now Peanuts.

I LOVED Peanuts when I was a kid. I remember reading the funny papers with my dad on Sunday mornings while we waited on my mom as she got ready for church. I loved it. We always started with Peanuts. In college, I recall having breakfast with my friends in Szabo and passing around the comics in the Tribune. We shared many laughs together over Calvin and Hobbes (that links to my favorite Calvin & Hobbes of all time), but I continued to hold a soft spot for Peanuts. Actually, reading the comics may have started my life as a news junkie. Without fail, anytime I pick up a real newspaper, which isn't often now in this time of online news, I always read the comics first.

In honor of permanent retirement of Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang, I bring you the first and last Peanuts comic strips.

First Peanuts comic strip, October 2, 1950

The last original Peanuts comic strip. It was originally scheduled to run on February 13, 2000, which had been declared Charles M. Schulz Day by the California lawmakers. Charles Schulz died the night before this comic ran.

Who can forget the Peanuts Theme Song? It only took a few bars to know you were about to laugh hysterically, always rooting for Charlie Brown to actually kick Lucy's football (which he never did).


As everyone knew, Snoopy was a World War 1 Flying Ace and his arch-enemy was the Red Baron.


We also learned many valuable lessons from Snoopy and the gang.

The Charles Schulz Philosophy

The first email I received this morning was from my friend Suzanne and really touched my heart. I feel this way about all of my Little Merry Sunshine readers, especially the regular ones. This is for all of you.

The Charles Schulz Philosophy

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them.

Just read this straight through and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.



How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.



Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.



Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money...or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.